Missouri History Mural

by the Grant Elementary School Fourth Graders of 2007
with guest artist Heinrich Leonhard

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The Missouri History Mural covers a vestibule wall in the children's area of the Columbia Public Library [15]. Children from the 2007 fourth grade classes of Grant Elementary School [16], along with guest artist Heinrich Leonhard, unveiled the tile mural on November 13, 2008.

The students drew, sculpted and painted low-relief tiles while learning about Missouri history. Their creative, colorful depictions of the MU columns, the capitol building, steamboats, Ginger Rogers, Beetle Bailey and other people and places surround a central panel with a rural scene by Leonhard featuring well-known local musicians Pete McMahan and Jim Ruth. Leonhard made a few tiles himself and library staff member Stephanie Hanson contributed a tile of Harry Truman while pitching in to help the students. Leonhard's terra cotta-colored framing pieces depict natural elements like corn stalks and dogwood flowers and historical scenes like a pioneer wagon train.

This mural was made possible through the generosity of the Daniel Boone Regional Library Foundation’s [17] Wulfekammer Endowment and the Grant Elementary School PTA and parents.