Conceived as an idea in 2016, and made reality with the creation in 2022 and installation in 2023, the Missouri River Heritage Mural is the culmination of a years-long collaboration. It involved local artists, cultural knowledge keepers, municipal and state agencies, numerous heritage non-profits, and over 200 participants. A central goal was realized by bringing partners within the Northern Plains National Heritage Area together to share personal stories about how and why the Missouri River in central North Dakota was and continues to be meaningful. 

 

Artist Greta McLain of GoodSpace Murals uses an indirect technique that is called the 'parachute cloth' technique. The entire mural is painted on 5-foot sheets of canvas before installing onto the wall. By bringing each of the canvas sheets to public gatherings, literally hundreds of people were able to participate in the painting of the mural. 

 

Thanks to everyone who participated in creating the Missouri River Heritage Mural and a special thanks to our partners: 

• Sons of Norway Sverdrup Lodge

• Dakota West Arts Council

• Consensus Council

• Missouri Valley Heritage Alliance

• Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation

• the Downtowners

• Capital City Christmas

• Bismarck Burleigh Public Health

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