Downtown Mural:
A Special Gift to McLoud
Our Chamber continually strives to make McLoud a community we are proud to call home as well as a destination for others. To embrace this vision in 2020 and to celebrate the 125th anniversary of McLoud, the McLoud Chamber of Commerce commissioned "Oklahoma famous" Bob Palmer with Palmer Studios to create a large mural in downtown McLoud. Mr. Palmer has created thousands of murals across the state of Oklahoma and beyond. He has dedicated his life to telling stories and celebrating history with colorful masterpieces. W. Roger Webb, President Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma said "Bob Palmer is a historian who has painted the story of the people and the communities across the state. The landscape of Oklahoma is more beautiful because of this prolific artist and his imagination."
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This beautiful tribute to McLoud is located on the southside of a large building bordering the McLoud Cafe parking lot at the NE corner of Broadway and Main (Hwy 102 & Hwy 270). While the mural itself was completed in 3 days, countless hours of research went into the components used for the design to make sure it told our story, had specific details that were as historically accurate as possible and celebrated the fact that we are McLOUD PROUD.
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Welcome to McLoud
Est. 1895 "Blackberry Capital of the World" The truck at the center of the mural is a 1948 International inspired by it's real counterpart located in the McLoud Museum at 421 W. Broadway. This truck was purchased from an International dealership that used to be at that same intersection in McLoud and was actually used to transport berries during the era of McLoud being named the "Blackberry Capital of the World". |
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Johnie Chambless purchased the truck brand new and was president of the McLoud Blackberry Growers Association when the association closed. The association's label is on the door of the truck as it hauls crates (made to look exactly like the crates used during the time) full of fresh blackberries from a farm.
To the right of the truck, a gentleman farmer can be seen walking down the rows of a blackberry farm. He has a carrier full of berries modeled after the authentic carriers displayed at the museum.
The old McLOUD water tower is majestically displayed just to the right of the "welcome" message. It was built in 1928 by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Works Builders from Chicago, IL and was demolished in 1996. The tower itself may now be gone but the memory of it still has a hold of the hearts in McLoud. While we couldn't incorporate every symbol from our history, having the tower was a must!
In celebration of McLoud's rich Native American history and in recognition of the McLoud Public School's proud mascot, the McLoud Redskins Chief logo is also prominently displayed. This beautiful and historic design was originally created with input from the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and is an image of respect and strength.
The old McLOUD water tower is majestically displayed just to the right of the "welcome" message. It was built in 1928 by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Works Builders from Chicago, IL and was demolished in 1996. The tower itself may now be gone but the memory of it still has a hold of the hearts in McLoud. While we couldn't incorporate every symbol from our history, having the tower was a must!
In celebration of McLoud's rich Native American history and in recognition of the McLoud Public School's proud mascot, the McLoud Redskins Chief logo is also prominently displayed. This beautiful and historic design was originally created with input from the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and is an image of respect and strength.