A new mural has been painted on the outside of The Oklahoma Territorial Museum, adding yet another attraction to an already popular Guthrie staple.
Located on the south side of the museum, the artwork is crafted and brought to life by muralist Bob Palmer, who has done countless other murals across the country and around the world. His Territorial Museum mural paints a new light on the Oklahoma Land Run, complementing the theme of the attractions inside the building.
“When people think about the Land Run, they think about the actual run and the day of the run,” Palmer said. “I wanted to do something different with this mural. I wanted to paint a picture of the day after the run and what the settlers would be waking up to and how they now have their whole life ahead of them in a new environment.”
Palmer had an interest in that exact location in the past, but nothing came to immediate fruition on a project until recently. Directors at the museum reached back out to Palmer and inquired about creating a mural, to which he agreed.
“I think they really liked the style that I used for my murals,” Palmer said. “They looked at some of my past work and thought I could bring good benefit to this wall and to the museum.”
A native of Walters, Okla., Palmer has an affinity for small towns and is thrilled to get the chance to work on a project in Guthrie. In all of Palmer’s murals, Western Heritage roots run strong as he seeks to create murals that are historically accurate in nature.
But, he said, this mural intends to stand out from all of the others he has created.
“Every museum has a different theme and every museum has its own different charm,” Palmer said. “This museum is different and it’s original. So, this mural needs to scream to the public about what is inside and the history that follows it.”
While Palmer receives a majority recognition with his murals, he is not a one-man band. He recently began working with Holly McHughes, a fellow artist from Perry, Okla.
“We originally met at a showcase that was going on in Stillwater,” McHughes said. “From there, we crossed paths again in the same gallery and hit it off from there and started working together. He is an incredible friend and partner to work with.”
McHughes never imagined she would be working on murals with Palmer. She has worked on multiple projects with him and has been incredibly grateful for the opportunities. The gratitude is shared by Palmer, as well.
“I just want people to know that it’s not all me, this is a team effort,” Palmer said. “I might get name recognition, but it’s not just me and only me working on these extensive projects like this one here.”
Both Palmer and McHughes believe this mural can provide great benefits to Guthrie and the museum. Both believe that tourists and Guthrie residents will come to see it and take in the meaning that it provides.
“Any mural anywhere is fantastic for tourism,” McHughes said. “They brighten up the area and provide incredible visuals for everyone. The history of this city is profound, and for us to get the chance to add to that with this mural is amazing.”
“We’ve already had people stop by and ask us about this, and we aren’t even finished with it yet,” Palmer said last Thursday, the day before the completion date. “So, it’s already doing what I hoped it would do, which is draw interest and get people to stop and look at it. It should be fantastic for Guthrie.”
The mural was paid for by Friends of the Guthrie Museum Complex