Did You Know Pennsylvania Is The Mural Capital Of The World?
By Beth Price-Williams|Published June 25, 2024
×
Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Exploring Philadelphia inevitably means discovering so many gems – from historical landmarks and museums to nature parks and markets – that we would need months, if not longer, to see everything the city has to offer. Next time you’re wandering around the city, look at the buildings, many of which have been transformed into an artist’s canvas, helping to earn Philly the title of the Mural Capital of the World.
Philadelphia’s colorful personality is evident everywhere you look, but it’s perhaps best illustrated through the more than 4,000 murals that decorate the city.
The road to becoming the world’s mural capital began with the founding of Mural Arts Philadelphia, a non-profit with an initial anti-graffiti goal, in 1984. Throughout the past four decades, the organization has become the largest public art program in Philadelphia.
The collection of more than 4,000 murals consistently grows as Mural Arts Philadelphia commissions, from local artists, as many as 100 new projects each year.
Each mural tells a unique story, and the collection encompasses all areas of life, including culture, sports, and history. If you’re a sports fan, stroll over the Walnut Street Bridge for a spectacular view of The Phillies Mural. Created by David McShane, the mural debuted in 2015 and celebrates the team, including its two World Series Championships (1980, 2008).
Remembering a Forgotten Hero honors Civil Rights leader Octavius V. Catto who, during his fight to secure voting rights for African-Americans, was assassinated in 1871. Find the mural, created by Keir Johnston and Willis Nomo Humphrey, at the Universal Charter School in South Philadelphia.
Mural Arts Philadelphia offers a self-guided tour of the murals, or you can join one of its guided tours. Guided tours generally run for 90 minutes and feature a theme, such as the Mural Mile Center City Walking Tour and the Historic Germantown Walking Tour.
Did you know that Philadelphia is the Mural Capital of the World? Have you seen some of the city’s more than 4,000 murals? Which are your favorites? Let us know in the comments! While you’re in the city, carve out some time to visit Magic Gardens, a one-of-a-kind art park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
With so much to see and do in Philadelphia, we need more than a day to experience as much as we can. Book a VRBO, and turn your daytrip into a multi-day visit.
