A public art program known as The Harlingen Mural Project is underway to brighten the streets of the downtown historic district.  Established in 2003, the Mural Project has resulted in the creation of numerous larger-than-life-size artworks for public enjoyment and spurred private commissions for murals in Harlingen hospitals, banks, offices, and homes.

Mural Project goals include preserving the history and heritage of Harlingen, revitalizing the downtown district, beautifying the city, and attracting visitors.  Founding partners are the Harlingen Downtown District, Harlingen Convention & Visitors Bureau, Harlingen Historical Preservation Society, and Harlingen Proud.  Other key supporters include Harlingen Public Library, Texas Commission on the Arts, and Valley International Airport. 

For more information on the Harlingen Mural Project, contact Cheryl LaBerge, Project Director, (956) 216-4910.

Downtown Harlingen boasts several larger-than-life-size murals depicting aspects of the community’s history and culture.  Shown here are folkloric dancers, mariachis, and members of community at the April 15, 2010, dedication of Harlingen's newest mural, The History of Mexico and Mankind.   This monumental work is in Centennial Park, at Jackson and the railroad tracks.

In October 2003, Harlingen unveiled a mural tribute to its most famous resident, the late Bill Haley, known as the "Grandfather of Rock 'n Roll."  Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and his Comets in July 1955 became the first rock 'n roll record to achieve Number One status on the bestseller lists and became the first international rock 'n roll hit.  Artist John Aretakis created the mural in 2003, under the auspices of the Harlingen Mural Project.  It is located at 202 W. Monroe in downtown Harlingen, near the base of the large American flag.

Celebrating 30 Years of LUV was created in 2005 by the City of Harlingen and Valley International Airport as a way of celebrating a successful business partnership between Harlingen and Southwest Airlines. This monumental work, designed by John Aretakis and executed by him and Harlingen artist Rudy Hyde, is the largest mural in the Rio Grande Valley. It depicts Southwest Airlines employees and customers among the things to see and do in the Valley. In the center, a pilot and customer service agent frame the familiar scene of a family reuniting at Valley International Airport. The mural includes scenes of storefronts along Jackson Street in Harlingen’s Downtown, the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island, and wildlife refuges along the Texas-Mexico border. To view the mural, cross the railroad tracks on Harrison and take an immediate right onto West Street. The mural will be on your right.

Oaxacan Dragon is a familiar image in Mexican and Mexican-American folk art and mythology. Many shops along the border sell wooden sculptures of fantastical dragons and flying serpents made by families of woodcarvers in the Oaxaca Valley. The bright and exciting image created by Harlingen artist Chris Valdez in 2005 faces the Harry E. Day Memorial Parking Lot on Monroe between First and Second Streets.

Historic Route 77, at 202 N. Commerce, captures the thrill of the American road trip, when packing the kids into the family car and heading off on the open highway was truly an adventure. Nostalgic images of Harlingen motor courts and diners that lured travelers off the road capture the bravado and panache of post-war America. It was created in 2005 by John Aretakis.

Welcome to Harlingen’s Downtown is on Commerce, just north of Van Buren. This colorful new artwork was created in 2005 by Chris Valdez to greet visitors to the city center.

Wildlife of the Rio Grande Valley was created in 2005 by Harlingen High School South students, as a project of the 2005 Leadership Harlingen class. The colorful mural at 202 W. Harrison captures the beauty and diversity of Valley wildlife and includes numerous resident and migratory birds, wild cats, white-tail deer, armadillos, and rabbits.

Tropical Playground of Texas covers the east wall of the Antiques & Artisans Emporium, 123 E. Jackson. This colorful mural, created in 2004 by John Aretakis, depicts Harlingen activities and attractions, including birding, fishing, golfing and antiquing.

The Golden Age of Hollywood & Mexican Cinema in Harlingen is mounted on the east wall of the Rialto (one of Harlingen’s first movie theatres), 101 W. Jackson. Created by artist Angel Hernandez in 2004, it features images of mid-century Harlingen theatres, movie stars, and promotional posters.

There are two murals at the Rio Grande Grill, located at 417 W. Van Buren.  The Longhorn Skull on the outside was painted in 2007 by Chris Valdez, as an artistic homage to the new restaurant’s Tex-Mex fusion cuisine.  Inside, a Mexican ranch scene by the same artist enlivens one wall.

Tropical Rio Grande Valley was commissioned in May 2007 by the Board of Directors of Harlingen’s Downtown.  The mural, by Valley artists Benjamin P. Varela and Celeste De Luna, is on a wall surrounding Grimsell Seed Company, at the corner of Monroe and “A” Street.  The mural reflects unique aspects of the border region, including an accordionist, the powerful Texas sun, red-crowned parrots, and Ridley sea turtles.  It was painted in Varela’s signature “pointillistic” style.

The Early Days faces the railroad tracks between Jackson and Van Buren. Painted in 2001 by Jermain Steed of Davenport, Iowa, this work depicts aspects of Harlingen’s founding and early years. The calm waters of the Arroyo Colorado and a man representing the Hispanic pioneers who first settled the area are central images. The steam locomotive signifies the coming of the railroad in 1904. City founder Lon C. Hill watches over the town’s development. The city’s tallest building is shown under construction, representing Harlingen at the height of optimism prior to the Great Depression and the devastating 1933 hurricane.

In 2000, Harlingen acquired a spectacular ceramic tile mural from a museum in Los Angeles.  The 905-piece mural was created in 1975 by Raul Esparza Sanchez (1923-2001) of Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico.  After many years in storage, this monumental artwork now forms the centerpiece of the City's new Centennial Park, located downtown at Jackson and the railroad tracks.  The mural is comprised of nine sections.  Shown here is a section depicting Pre-Hispanic Cultures:  Olmec, Aztec, Teotihucan, Mayan, Toltec, and Zapotec.

Never Give Up adorns the side of the Grande Theatre at 507 W. Harrison. This mural was painted in 1999 by Carlos Ruiz of Santa Maria. It depicts the parable of the Good Samaritan, a biblical tale of brotherhood and compassion.

Building a Community of Learners adorns the east wall of The Literacy Center, 101 E. Monroe. It was created during the 1997 Jackson Street Jubilee by California artist Phil Yeh and community volunteers. From 1985-2000, the internationally-acclaimed artist and author toured the U.S. painting murals to call attention to illiteracy. Look for Yeh’s trademark dinosaurs and the slogan, Read: Avoid Extinction.

The mosaic tile mural above the entrance to the Harlingen Housing Authority office at 219 E. Jackson dates to 1958 when the building opened as Harlingen National Bank. The mural is the work of artist Shirley Voekrodt who collaborated frequently with noted Harlingen architect John G. York. The mural’s geometric overlay of tiles in different colors complemented York’s organization of the façade as a composition of planes.

Development of the Rio Grande Valley is mounted inside Capital One, 221 E. Van Buren. The late Normah Knight’s spectacular 38’ x 11’ mural weaves mythical figures into a fascinating portrayal of the Valley’s agricultural and industrial growth. Commissioned in 1951 for First National Bank, the mural was donated to the U.S. Post Office in 1965 and moved to this location. It chronicles the development of irrigation systems, railroads and airports in the Valley, and the building of cotton gins and grain elevators.

The Story of Bread is inside Gallery 218, at the corner of Jackson & Commerce. In 1945 the Holsum Baking Company hired the late Normah Knight to paint the 65’ long mural for the lobby of its new facility at 1500 W. Harrison. Over the years it captivated thousands of schoolchildren and visitors who toured the bakery until it closed in 1996.

The Dia de los Muertos mural, at the corner of Commerce and Monroe, pays homage to local Day of the Dead ceremonies. It depicts Katrina, the popular female skeleton figure, leading a parade of musicians and farmers through the city cemetery.  Cotton sacks on the backs of the farmers and a rooster on the accordion played by one of the celebrants are symbols of the Valley’s rich agricultural history.  Artist eRic Luplow, of Truchas, New Mexico, describes his paintings as Sur-Folk, a blend of surrealism and folk art, alive with brilliant colors and a lot of soul.