Murals in Fort Scott

Fort Scott is blessed with talented artists and this page features murals painted around the community, some of which are nearly a century old!

A hardcopy brochure of the murals may be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Center, 231 E. Wall St.

Border Getaways
Post Office and Former Federal Courthouse Mural
Location:  120 S. National Ave., 2nd Floor
Inquire with post office staff to view mural.

Completed:  1937
Artist:  Oscar Berninghaus

Background:

Oscar E. Berninghaus painted this Section of Fine Arts oil-on-canvas mural entitled “Border Gateways” in 1937 in the former Fort Scott federal courthouse. 

This work is a placid scene showing settlers travelling into the Kansas Territory as a result of the “Enabling Act of Kansas Territory” in 1854. There appear to be rows of newly cut wheat and Native Americans looking on the settlers at the front left, with cavalry at the front right. A stagecoach is in the background, possibly the Butterfield.

Oscar Berninghaus was born in St. Louis, MO and was largely self taught, though he attended class part-time at Washington University. Growing up painting the levee in St. Louis, he absorbed tales of the old West and travelled to Colorado and New Mexico, where he was influenced by the Taos artists and to which he returned most summers. He was employed as a printmaker in St. Louis, producing chromolithographs of various western subjects with a series for Anheuser Busch, and moved to Taos in 1921.

Other murals by Oscar Berninghaus are located in Weatherford, OK and Phoenix, AZ.

Bourbon County Courthouse Main Courtroom Mural - Lady Justice 
Location:  210 S. National Ave., 3rd Floor

Completed:  1929
Artist:  David Hicks Overmyer

Background (reference explorekansas.blogspot.com):

Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1890, Overmeyer studied art at Reid-Stone Art School in Topeka, (now Washburn University), then studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, and, finally, at the Art Students' League of New York.

He painted Lady Justice in 1929. In her right hand, Lady Justice holds Corpis Juris (the body of law), along with a sword to enforce the law; in her left arm, a scale to balance competing claims.  In the right background  is the Washington Capitol.

In 1934, the Works Progress Administration commissioned four murals in the Hale Library at Kansas State University. The murals — titled Agriculture, Mechanics, Arts and Home. In 1937, Overmyer painted for Topeka High School, his alma mater, The Pageant of England. In 1951 he received a commission from the Kansas Legislature to paint eight scenes on Kansas history for the capital rotunda: The Coming of the Spaniards, Battle of Arickaree, Battle of Mine Creek, Building a Sod House, Lewis and Clark in Kansas, Westward Ho, Arrival of the Railroad, and Chisholm Trail. The murals were completed in 1953.

Other works by Overmyer are on permanent display at the Mulvane Art Museum in Topeka Kansas.

Tribune article on artist's grandson visiting mural in 2013:  https://www.fstribune.com/story/1988721.html

First Kansas Colored Infantry Mural
Location:  North end of Main Street, facing the Fort Scott National Historic Site, National Park
1 Old Fort Blvd.

Completed:  2023
Artist:  Cbabi Bayoc

Background:

Greetings from Fort Scott Kansas Mural
Location:  Main Street Vintage & Co., 23 S. Main St. (south side of building)

Completed:  2022
Artists:  Danyell Miles, Flo Tanner, Larry Amer, Berry Jones, Suzette Malia, Jessica Cox

Sunflower Mural
Location:  Angie Dawn’s Boutique & Bids & Dibs Resale, 108 Scott Ave. (north side of building)

Completed:  2022
Artists:  Danyell Miles and Flo Tanner (mother/daughter)

The Future Belongs to Those Who Read
Location:  Downtown, 14 E. 2nd St. (west side of building facing the Fort Scott Public Library)

Painting: Fort Scott Middle School and High School Art Classes
Design: Winfield Scott Elementary Students & kids hands used as the bricks

Bison Mural

Location:  Structure by Margo’s Salon, 19 S. National Ave. (south side of building)

Artists:  Cally Bailey, Emily Bailey

Elaine Buerge Mural
Location:  Former Mercy Hospital, now KRI/Freeman Hospital, 401 Woodland Hills Blvd.

Completed:  2012
Artist:  Elaine Buerge

Fort Day and Fort Night
Location:  Iron Star Antiques & Such, 1 S. Main St. (south side of building)

Artists:  Katie Hueston, Bre Eden, Cally Bailey, Emily Bailey

Rolling Hills of Kansas Mural
Location:  Across from the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St.

Artists:  Kate Freeman, Bre Eden, Katie Hueston, Hayden Travis, and Kadra Nevitt  

First United Methodist Church Mural
Location:  301 S. National Ave.

Artist:  Danyell Miles

Stephen Toal Murals

All of the following murals are by local artist Stephen Toal

Link to Stephen's Facebook page here.

Undersea Adventure
Location:  City of Fort Scott Water Treatment Plant, 910 Burke St.

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Riverfront Park Murals
Location:  Riverfront Park, 400 N. National Ave. (turn east on River Loop Rd.)

All of the murals below are located in Riverfront Park at the bridge going under Hwy. 69 on River Loop Rd.

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Troop Salute ~ A tribute to those currently serving in the United States military.

Gordon Parks ~ Fort Scott native “Gordon Parks” was an amazing photographer, filmmaker, writer and composer whose achievements were many, but none compared to his efforts to stand against injustice, poverty and racism.

Eagle ~ The symbol of American pride and patriotism

Statue of Liberty

Rosie the Riveter ~ Stands as an iconic female factory worker during the World War II era.

Cannon Firing

Meadowlark ~ The Kansas state bird.

Gunn Park Murals
Location:  Gunn Park, 1010 Park Ave. (All of the murals below are in Shelter House 1)

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Angel Wings

Flower-scape

Fisher Park Murals
Location:  700 S. Main St.

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Concession Stand Mural

Restroom Mural ~ Representing Fort Scott Tigers

Winfield Scott Elementary Murals
Location:  316 W. 10th St.

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Murals in Local Businesses

Outpost 13 West Restaurant
Location:  13 W. Oak St.

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Fort Scott Barber Shop (not currently open)
Location:  118 E. Wall St.

Artist:  Stephen Toal

Liberty Theatre Murals
Location:  113 S. Main St.

Built in the the late 1800s, the Liberty Theatre is a landmark in Fort Scott. Inside the theatre, guests can see two handpainted murals created in 1951 by artist George Kieffer. The south mural depicts the fort, with a garrison on the parade ground. The north mural shows a scene of the early town of Fort Scott. Both murals depict Fort Scott and its people as they were in 1842.

Pictures to come!