The murals of DeKalb offer history and culture while serving to beautify the city.

Past

The DeKalb City Council approved the Streetscape Mural Program in August 2005. The program initiated the creation of two murals in the downtown area and a third will be done by Aug. 15. The newly adopted downtown revitalization plan will not have any impact on existing murals.

The first mural, “Communiversity,” is located on the east side of Eduardo’s Restaurant, 214 E. Lincoln Highway. Randy Halverson designed and painted this mural. The sesquicentennial-themed mural includes figures from the past and present who played an important role in DeKalb’s history, such as Baron DeKalb, Abraham Lincoln, Clinton Rosette, NIU Football Coach Joe Novak, NIU track star Bumpy Smith and Ruth Swanson, a DeKalb citizen in 1907.

In October 2006, the Lincoln Highway Mural was completed on the Ferguson Building, on the corner of East Lincoln Highway and North Seventh Street In December 2005, the Streetscape Mural Committee announced that the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition mural program named DeKalb as one of the first communities to receive a mural with the intent that the mural would be dedicated to honoring the travel contributions along a historic national highway.

The ILHC mural program selected artist Jay Allen of Shaw Craft Signs as mural artist. Elizabeth Fenwick and Linda Groat, mural committee members employed by the NIU Library, provided historic images of Lincoln Highway.

Present

“We are in the process of reviewing submissions for a third mural to be located on the upper half of the south wall of The Nehring Cultural and Tourism Center, 164 E. Lincoln Highway,” said Jennifer Groce, executive director of ReNew DeKalb. This mural will have a parks and recreation theme, and the design must include the Band Shell in Hopkins Park.

Future

Public unveiling of the mural design will take place March 26. The design will then go to the city council for consideration April 9 and final approval April 23. The final completion of this mural is expected to be no later than Aug. 15.