AA-2026-9E9876
On the image
Public buildings in the 1970s often featured murals designed to inspire civic pride, usually by depicting a heavily romanticized version of history. This particular example shows stoic pioneers, complete with covered wagons and oxen, bravely pushing westward into what was probably someone else's land, but the mural doesn't dwell on those minor historical details. The implied message is that hard work and manifest destiny are perfectly aligned.
The surrounding architecture, with its repetitive, patterned arches, suggests a formal setting where important decisions were made by people who felt very important. It’s comforting to know that even mundane administrative tasks could be performed under the watchful eye of a heroic past, ensuring that everyone remembered the grand purpose of it all.
The overall effect is a testament to an era's belief that a good historical narrative, painted large and high, could compensate for whatever actual progress might be lacking downstairs.
The historian's note
This photograph from the 1970s captures a section of a large mural, likely located within a public building such as a state capitol, courthouse, or post office. The artistic style and subject matter, depicting Westward Expansion with covered wagons, oxen, and pioneers, are characteristic of American public art commissions from the early to mid-20th century, particularly those funded during the New Deal era.
Such murals served to celebrate national identity, local history, and the perceived virtues of industriousness and exploration. They were often monumental in scale, integrated into the architecture, and intended to inspire patriotism and a sense of shared heritage among citizens visiting these civic spaces.
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Westward Expansion Mural in Public Building, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-9E9876. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/westward-expansion-mural-in-public-building-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20269E9876,
title = {Westward Expansion Mural in Public Building, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-9E9876},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/westward-expansion-mural-in-public-building-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Westward Expansion Mural in Public Building, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-9E9876 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/westward-expansion-mural-in-public-building-1970s ER -
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