Small Town – Big Vision
2016-20, 22′ – 23′ Best of State – Public Art
There have been wall murals adorning Tremonton’s streetscape since the 1970’s. As published in a Wasatch View Magazine article featuring Tremonton City’s public art written by Tim Gurrister of the Ogden Standard Examiner there was a mystery muralist from the 1970s credited with creating the first landscape murals on buildings around Tremonton. It is legend that the mystery muralist supposedly used his hair to make his paint brush bristles. Although most have been painted over and lost, you can still see one of these paintings on a building in Tremonton.
From these humble and legendary public art beginnings Tremonton City has worked to amass a collection of public art. This collection went on to be nominated and to win the 2016 – 2020, 2022 – 2023 Best of State award as well as the 2020 BOSS (Best of State Statue) award for Arts & Entertainment. Come visit our community, learn of our history and view what we have to offer.
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MURALS
This mural is to honor Chief Sagwitch and The Northwestern Shoshone Tribe that knew as their home the northern Great Salt Lake, Bear River, Cache, and Bear Lake valleys in northern Utah. 2022 marked 200 years since the birth of Chief Sagwitch who was born at a time when his people traded with the mountain men. In the late 1850s, wagons brought Mormon pioneers to settle in Cache Valley, the Northwestern Shoshone heartland. Following the arrival of the pioneer settlers, the Shoshone found it more difficult to support themselves as land and resources were diminished from settlers moving onto their lands. It only took a few altercations between Chief Sagwich’s people and settlers for a zealous army colonel to seek severe punishment of the Northwestern Shoshone on a winter morning in 1863. The Bear River Massacre was among the bloodiest engagements of America’s Indian wars. Hundreds of Shoshone, including Sagwitch’s wife and two sons, died. The band was shattered. Though wounded, Sagwitch escaped the massacre and lived to lead the desperate survivors.
The following years were very hard for the survivors. The federal government negotiated a treaty with them but failed to get Sagwitch’s signature when enroute to the sessions near the small town of Mantua. He was arrested and then wounded by a white assassin. After escaping he was brought in and cared for by our current Mayors great-grand-father who became good friends with the Chief and was a link between the Shoshone and the white man. With the world around him changed, Sagwitch sought peace and accommodation with the white men occupying the Shoshone’s valleys, leading his people with hope, peace, and forgiveness. With the assistance of Mormon leaders, they established the Washakie community in northern Utah. Though efforts to secure a land base had an uneven history, they partly succeeded, and the story of these Shoshone’s attempts at rural farming diverged significantly from what happened on government reservations. When Sagwitch died, his death went almost unnoticed outside of the Washakie community, but his children and grandchildren continued to be important voices among a people who, after experiencing near annihilation, survived in the new world into which Sagwitch led them.
Candy Bomber – October 2020
Artist ~ Erik Burke KSL News Mural Time-lapse
This tribute to local Gail Halvorsen painted over his 100th birthday details his creative act of kindness during the Berlin airlift. Following WWII, Halvorsen was flying C-54 cargo planes into Berlin to deliver food to those starving within the Soviet surrounded city. One day while at the Tempelhof air base he went over to talk to 30 or so children lined up along a barbed wire fence. It was this interaction that changed the course of his and many others’ lives.
They were excited and told me that ‘when the weather gets so bad that you can’t land, don’t worry about us. We can get by on a little food, but if we lose our freedom, we may never get it back.'” Touched, Halvorsen reached into his pocket and took out two sticks of gum to give to the children. The kids broke them into little pieces and shared them; the ones who did not get any sniffed the wrappers. Watching the children, so many of whom had absolutely nothing, Halvorsen regretted not having more to give them. Halvorsen recorded that he wanted to do more for the children, and so told them that the following day he would have enough gum for all of them, and he would drop it out of his plane.
That night Halvorsen, his copilot, and his engineer pooled their candy rations for the next day’s drop. The accumulated candy was heavy, so in order to ensure the children were not hurt by the falling candy, Halvorsen made three parachutes out of handkerchiefs and tied them to the rations. In the morning when Halvorsen and his crew made regular supply drops, they also dropped three boxes of candy attached to handkerchiefs. They made these drops once a week for three weeks. Each week, the group of children waiting at the Tempelhof airport fence grew significantly.
When word reached the airlift commander, Lieutenant General William H. Tunner, he ordered it expanded into Operation “Little Vittles”, named as a play on the airlift’s name of Operation Vittles. Operation Little Vittles began officially on September 22, 1948. Support for this effort to provide the children of Berlin with chocolate and gum grew quickly, first among Halvorsen’s friends, then to the whole squadron. As news of Operation Little Vittles reached the United States, children and candymakers from all over the US began contributing candy. By November 1948, Halvorsen could no longer keep up with the amount of candy and handkerchiefs being sent from across America.
Space Shuttle Launch
The booster rockets that propelled the space shuttle Columbia into space on April 12, 1981 were designed and manufactured in Box Elder County, Utah. The program began in 1972, and its final flight on July 8, 2011 was described as both inspiring and captivating. The shuttle program represents a signifanct achievment for the United States Space Program and the people of the Bear River Region who are a part of its history. Visitors can view an outdoor display of solid rocket motors at the Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) launch facility, approximately 21 miles west of Tremonton. Created by Rachel Wadsworth and funded by Orbital ATK and Tremonton City.
Driving of the Golden Spike
Andrew J. Russell’s “East and West Shaking Hands at Laying of Last Rail.” Commonly known as “The Champagne Photo.” The National Park Service maintains the Golden Spike National Historic Site, approximately 27 miles west of Tremonton. Created by artist Jason Nessen and funded by Union Pacific Railroad Foundation and Tremonton City.
1920’s Downtown Welcome Mural
Downtown Welcome Mural depicts Tremonton’s Main street ca. 1920. The mural was created from a photograph provided to the City by Barry Cole in celebration of the Tremonton City Centennial in 2003. The mural was completed in 2014 by local artist Jason Nessen and funded in part by grants provided by Box Elder County Tourism Tax Advisory Board and by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums.
Midland Hotel Mural
Midland Hotel Mural gives the glimpse of a grand hotel and once city landmark built in 1914 by David Holmgren on the corner of Main Street and 100 West. The hotel was advertised by the phrase “Well Furnished Rooms & Meals à la Carte and of the Best.” Mr. Holmgren also served as Mayor of Tremonton from 1924 to 1927. The Hotel and surrounding buildings were destroyed by a fire in the early morning hours of January 31, 1995 and Midland Square now stands in its
place. The mural was created from a photograph by local artist, Jason Nessen in 2003, and was funded in part by the David Holmgren Family and by Jay D. & Alice C. Harris.
Tremonton City Volunteer Fire Department
CA.1920 – Photograph of a group of local residents and businessman as “Volunteer Firefighters.” The Tremonton Volunteer Fire Department was officially organized by the City Council on April 4, 1938, including the purchase of an American-La France fire engine for $7,078.17. Created by Jason Nessen and funded by Tremonton Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary and Tremonton City.
1st Golden Spike Rodeo Mural
1st Golden Spike Rodeo Mural is inspired by a photograph taken in 1925 of the first county rodeo; also believed to be the oldest and longest running rodeo in the State of Utah. The original location of the rodeo grounds was near 300 North and 400 West in Tremonton. The mural was painted by local artist, Jason Nessen in 2007, and funding was provided by a grant from the Box Elder County Tourism Tax Advisory Board.
Jeppsen Family Collage Mural
Jeppsen Family Collage Mural was commissioned by the Darrell Jeppsen family in 2008. It depicts the life of an influential Garland/Tremonton family and long time owners of several area businesses, some of which are still in operation today. The mural was painted by local artist Jason Nessen.
Home Mural
Home Mural was commissioned by Bear River Valley Realty, a local Real Estate firm. The mural was painted by local artist, Jason Nessen in 2007. *Note how the actual building windows are incorporated into the mural.
Bear River Sports Mural
You probably know of someone (maybe yourself) who dreamed of playing sports for a high school, college or professional team. For many, this dream starts with playing sports at a city park. This mural proudly illustrates few of tremonton’s residents who had that dream. They played, competed and had fun at North Park as well as the other parks in Tremonton. The Ladies Bear River High School Softball team were 5-peat, 3A state champions from 2008 – 2012.
Mountain Mural
Mountain Mural painted on the side of the scale house at a site of one of the first grain mills in Tremonton. To read about how this Mural may have appeared at this location, see “Teton Murals.”
Mountain Mural 2
Mountain Mural 2 existed on an older building that once housed the City Fire Department and City Offices from the 1930’s through the early 1970’s. The building is now used for storage by a local business. See “Teton Murals” to read about how this mural may have appeared at this location.
1960’s Main Street Welcome Mural
A postcard showing life on main street in the 1960s inspired this welcome mural on the West end of downtown. The vantage point of
the mural is the same as looking down main street. The mural shows the old buisness that used to be on mainstreet including the Midland
Hotel that burned down in 1995. Notice the similarities and differences to the downtown landscape from the style of cars to the trees that
now line Main Street.
Sculptures and Statues
Midland Square Veterans Memorial
Midland Square Veterans Memorial is part of Midland Square Park created in downtown Tremonton where the historic Midland Hotel once stood. The memorial was conceived by A. C. Christensen of Elwood, Utah, who supervised its construction. Mr. Christensen was a veteran of World War II, and spent three and a half years in a Japanese prison camp. The memorial consists of a block-shaped monument displaying portraits of the four Borgstrom brothers from
nearby Thatcher, Utah who died within six months of each other in 1944, during World War II. Jackie Allred Hunlow sculpted the portraits. Overlooking the monument is a larger-than-life bronze statue of a soldier gazing at the four brothers. The statue stands 7-feet 7-inches tall and was sculpted by local artist Val Lewis. Surrounding the memorial are stainless steel plaques where the names of over 3,000 local veterans are etched according to the wars in which they served. The memorial was dedicated on August 18, 2001. Funding to construct the mural was provided by private donations.
Library Statue
Library Statue is where characters come to life as children read from the story of Peter Pan. The bronze statue was sculpted by local artist Val Lewis in 2007 and sits on Shuman Park property in front of the Library. Funding for the statue was provided by community donations.
Shuman Park Bell
Shuman Park Bell honors John Shuman, one of the first settlers of Tremonton, who in 1903, donated a portion of his homestead for the creation of a community park, known today as Shuman Park. It is also a place of honor for the Town Bell that tolled curfew to children for 25 years, and rang for special occasions or emergencies until being replaced by an electric siren in 1936. The Tremonton City Library, built in 1927, sits on the southwest portion of the park property where the bell and monument were erected on July 24, 1970. The bell and monument were relocated from the front of the library to its current location in July 2014.
