cloud county covention & tourism- whole wall mural

Located on the southwest corner of the busiest intersection in Concordia, the Whole Wall Mural is a wonderful capsule of the history of Cloud County. Hand-cut brick fired by the local brickplant depicts the flora, fauna, architecture, history, and culture of this part of North Central Kansas in an outdoor setting visible from either highway . Because of the texture and dimension of the mural, it changes throughout the day and year. Photographers can have a wonderful time trying to capture the "perfect" lighting, but everyone enjoys looking for specific details. There is no "Waldo", but there are numerous other characters to spy. Friendly folks in the Convention and Tourism building are always ready to suggest other nearby attractions, places to eat or stay. Just ask!

We came upon this wall unexpectedly and were amazed. It's a huge, beautifully wrought overview of the area's history. All ages can appreciate it --from finding the whimsical details to admiring the artistic craftsmanship and scope of the project to learning the history of the area. The wall's creation was a wonderful collaboration of the community, the local brick company Cloud Ceramics, and the artists Catherine Magel and Mara Smith. It's quite a marvel; be sure to see it.

We have seen 100's of murals in our travels throughout the USA and world, but this one was the most unique so far. It depicts the history of Kansas three dimensional burgundy ceramic brick. Many of the characters in the mural are locals. The artist sculpted the brick, numbered them, and kiln dried them, before putting them individually in place. The wall is 140 feet long and 20 ft high. It is on the west side of US Highway 81 about halfway through Concordia, KS. There is a free museum inside of the visitor center with a very bubbly staff.