The Oregon Trail Mural
by Ann Woodruff Murray - who has extensive experience in painting
stage sets for theater, film, and television productions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Oregon Trail Mural, painted on the East wall of Emerald Art Center, is the largest of all nine murals in downtown known as Art Alley. As part of the recognition of the Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial in 1993, the City of Springfield permitted a mural to be painted on the east wall of the Sutton Block Building, now the newly renovated Emerald Art Center. It honors both the pioneers and the nation's Native American people. The mural is 120 feet long, 32 feet high, and was meant to be read from right to left, just as the pioneers traveled from east to west. The project was started on July 7, 1993, and was finished seven months later on February 3, 1994. The mural captures all of the encounters and scenes the pioneers came upon during their difficult endeavor and has special lighting allowing it to be seen day or night.

 



Symbols:
1.) The dedication which reads, "In 1843, tales were told in the East of a 'Promised Land', a wild bountiful territory on the far edge of the continent. The 2000 mile adventure between there and here was called the Oregon Trail."

2.) The Ohio Star Quilt pattern is\ made up of images of rifles, knives, wagon wheels, horse shoes, and wooden water buckets, representing\ the tools used on the trek.

3.) The paddle wheel steam boat magnifies how emigrants from the east got to the Kansas/Missouri border to get to the starting point of the Oregon Trail.

4.) The green marble at the top of the mural represents the halls of power of the eastern United States.

5.) The American Flag in 1836 shows our patriotism and pride.

6.) The courthouse in Independence, Missouri, was the official starting point of the trail.

7.) A group of pioneers leaving Fort Laramie, Wyoming.

8.) A wagon train heading westward.

9.) Rawhide thongs holding up buffalo hide.

10.) Buffalo hide tanning on a rack.

11.) Ceremonial Eagle feathers used by many tribes on the plains.

12.) The Elephant button which represented a saying that if you"saw the elephant you were compelled to go West."

13.) Traditional Native American bead work.

14.) Traditional Native American Porcupine Quill Belt.

15.) Shows a traditional Plains Indian encampment.

16.) Red pipestone pendant with a buffalo skull incorporating Sioux design.

17.) A bison herd upon the plains grazing.

18.) Pioneers meeting a tribe of Plains Indians on the open prairie.

19.) Courthouse and Jailhouse Rocks on the North Platte River, in Nebraska.

20.) The 500 foot Chimney Rock along the North Platte River, in Nebraska.

21.) Eagle Rock at Scotts Bluff, Nebraska.

22.) At Independence Rock, Wyoming, it was a tradition for an emigrant to carve their name on the rock. It was named this because wagon trains that left in mid-May would reach it in time for the Fourth of July to celebrate.

23.) The platform burial by the Plains Indians was symbolic in the passing of their way of life.

24.) Devil's Gate on the Sweetwater River in Wyoming.

25.) The Sweetwater River, Wyoming.

26.) A herd of elk; very important on the trek.

27.) The Brown Bear, another important game encountered upon by pioneers.

28.) Rafting down the Columbia River with Beacon Rock in the background.

29.) Mt. Hood was the last obstacle pioneers needed to worry about on the Oregon Trail.

30.) The two rock graves at Wind River Range, South Pass Utah, show how life was hard on the trail and could lead to death.

31.) Spirit Caves pictographs near Barrier Canyon, Utah.

32.) Hell's Canyon/Snake River, Idaho/Oregon border.

33.) Winter snow at the City of the Rocks, Idaho, shows that if caught in the snow death was inevitable.

34.) Native Americans salmon fishing at Celilo Falls on the Columbia River, near The Dalles, Oregon.

35.) Mt. Mcloughlin, Klamath Falls, Oregon

36.) Northwest Tribal names:

Tillamook
Siletz
Yaquina
Alsea
Siuslaw
Skilloot
Tolowa
Clatskanie
Kwatami
Walla Walla
Wyampam
Miluk Coos
Kalapuyans
Hovis Coos
Clatsop
Multnomah
Cathlemet
Molalla
Clackamas
Chastacosta
Umpqua
Tutuni
Coquille
Chinooks
Yoncalla
Shasta
Chetco
Umatilla
Cayuse
North Pauite
Nez Perce
Tenino
Takelma
Taltushtuntude
Latc-Awa
Dakubetede
Bannock
Klammath
Shoshoni
Modoc
Wasco

37.) Traditional basket weave totem figures.

38.) Woven fish net over the Mckenzie River.

39.) Woven mat, Flying Geese design.

40.) The Three Sisters Wilderness.

41.) Deer in an Eastern Oregon meadow.

42.) The Willamette River.

43.) Heceta Head Beach at sunset, Florence, Oregon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gallery open Tues - Sat • 11 am to 4 pm

500 Main Street • Springfield, OR 97477 • 541 726-8595

 

 

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