With our breathtaking scenery and rich heritage, it’s no wonder the Endless Mountains have inspired larger-than-life artwork. Murals add a pop of color to our historic towns, capture our area’s stories, and reflect our dreams for the future. Check out these spectacular pieces of public art as you explore our communities.
The Butterfly Project Mural
Location: Rear of Greenwood’s Furniture, 61 East Tioga St., Tunkhannock
Artists & Contributors: Bob & Lavona Daniels, Gail Long, Peg Morris, Merriel Oliver, Carlos Penedos, Marta Kovacs-Ruiz, Michelle Thomas, & the Monsey Family
The Butterfly Project Mural was a grassroots effort years in the making. It all began when local resident Merriel Oliver attended a presentation by Rick Mikula, an author and speaker known as “The Butterfly Guy.” She dreamed about turning Tunkhannock into a “butterfly town,” not only to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators but also to encourage ecotourism, art, and events throughout the community. After all, Tunkhannock is located along a major migration corridor for Monarch butterflies, which made it all the more important to preserve their habitat.
Oliver gathered a group of community members who called themselves “The Butterfly People.” The group cleaned the wall on the back of Greenwood’s Furniture and painted a backdrop of mountains, sky, and clouds. Then they gridded out and painted the design, which depicts swallowtail butterflies in a field of colorful flowers.
The mural was completed in 2014, but the project didn’t end there. Oliver continued to give presentations about pollinators and collaborate on other butterfly-themed events throughout town. As you stroll through Tunkhannock, count how many butterflies you can spot!
Dushore’s 150th Anniversary
Location: 220 Water St., Dushore
Artist: Karen Black
This mural was completed in 2009 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Dushore’s incorporation. Sullivan County artist Karen Black painted it on nine separate boards, each three feet by ten feet. Every panel shares pieces of Dushore’s history with many hidden stories along the way.
“I’ve always loved history, so I spent many hours at the local museum looking at photos and talking to people who remembered certain decades,” said Black. “I love challenges that murals bring. Each one has its own unique hurdles to conquer and a unique message for the viewers.”
Factoryville: Hometown of Christy Mathewson
Location: College Ave. & Maple St., Factoryville
Artist: Unknown
Six panels honor legendary pitcher Christy Mathewson, who was born in Factoryville in 1880 and attended Keystone Academy (now Keystone College). He went on to play professional baseball for the New York Giants and the Cincinatti Reds and became one of the first inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The mural includes fascinating facts and stats about Mathewson’s baseball career. While you’re in town, you can also visit Christy Mathewson Park, where a bronze memorial statue stands proudly beside the town’s baseball field.
Forest City Trail Town Mural
Location: 503 Main St., Forest City
Artist: Jeff George
This 1,800-square-foot mural welcomes visitors to Forest City, a charming town along the D&H Rail-Trail. It portrays many of the animals that you may see around the Greater Forest City area, while hikers and cyclists give a nod to the town’s boundless outdoor recreation opportunities.
In the Moment (Of Then and Now)
Location: Lobby of the Mattern Building, 7406 Route 487, Mildred
Artist: Cat Badger
The Mattern Building, a former shoe factory turned into a community hub, is home to this stunning mural that illustrates Sullivan County’s history.
“I’ve traveled far and wide painting murals and never had the chance to be so close to home as with this piece” explained artist Cat Badger. “I grew up in Sullivan County and am grateful for connections that helped guide this mural from design to completion, including the Dushore arts community, Sulco Historical Society, Sulco Library, and staff of the Mattern.”
The mural acts like a timeline, beginning with early industries such as coal mining, lumbering, and railroading. The middle portion shows scenes from the Keystone State Shoe Company, the original tenant of the Mattern Building. The final section displays landmarks like Ganoga Falls at Ricketts Glen State Park, the Forksville Covered Bridge, and the sign for Worlds End State Park.
“Whether you were born here, are a new resident or just visiting, I think this mural has a lot to offer,” said Badger. “My hope is that it continues to provide recognition to prior generations, inform younger people, generate curiosity, and inspire other artists to do the same.”
Sullivan County Wildlife Display
Location: Lobby of the Sullivan County Courthouse, 245 Muncy St., Laporte
Artist: Karen Black
When the Mokoma Inn was demolished, the Sullivan County Courthouse preserved the hotel’s collection of mounted animals. Over time, however, the display needed some TLC. Local artist Karen Black created a new mural to replace the original backdrop from 1940. The updated mural is 10 feet tall and 22 feet long, featuring a view of Sullivan County’s pristine forest. Black was assisted by high school art student Hayden Baumunk.
“I taught him the oil glazing method I used to paint the mural on canvas,” explained Black. “He painted a floor cloth to represent the Loyalsock Creek with fish in it as part of his senior project. It’s always exciting to foster young, creative minds with art.”
Taxidermist Nancy Craft restored the animals, some of which are over 100 years old. Forty-two different species are included in the collection, and even more local flora and fauna are painted into the mural. If you’re up for a challenge, see how many painted animals you can find!
Sunflower
Location: East Tioga & Bridge St., Tunkhannock, PA
Artist: Leigh Pawling
Located at Tunkhannock’s main intersection, a cheerful sunflower and colorful butterflies welcome visitors into town. Look closely, and you’ll notice the mural mirrors the sunflower patten on the building’s original cornice.
Artist Leigh Pawling worked with building owner Carlos Penedos to create this stunning focal point.
“He had a huge scaffolding, which hid the entire building so I would climb up and down to first draw the outline of the flower and then paint it using a grid method,” recalled Pawling. “It was so exciting because there was a true unveiling of the mural when the cover and scaffolding came down.”
Telling Wyoming County’s History Mural Project
Location: Dietrich Theater, 60 East Tioga St., Tunkhannock
Artist: Bob Lizza
Located in the heart of downtown Tunkhannock, the Dietrich Theater makes the perfect canvas for “Telling Wyoming County’s History,” a project featuring three murals inspired by the area’s heritage and scenery.
On the back of the theater, two massive murals depict the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, the largest concrete railroad bridge in the world. Tunkhannock artist Bob Lizza used a trompe l’oeil (or “trick of the eye”) effect to make the mural look three dimensional, as if you could step right into the scene. You’ll also notice hidden references to the town’s architecture, included brickwork that mirrors the original Dietrich Theater and bluestone steps similar to the Wyoming County Historical Society.
The side of the theater features a panoramic view of the Vosburg Neck, a majestic oxbow bend in the Susquehanna River. The mural was completed in 2021, about a year before the Neck was named one of Pennsylvania’s newest state parks.