Painted high on the side of the exterior wall of an art gallery, this historical mural is only…read morepartially blocked by a growing tree. Looking at the Google Street View history, there was a much bigger tree in the way back in 2007 that was since replaced and this tree was a tiny sapling back then. So maybe it will take a couple of viewpoints to see the entire mural as the new tree gets bigger.
There is a marker posted adjacent to the mural. It reads...
Credit the 1908 Napa City & County Portfolio & Directory, published by Mr. H. A. Darms of Napa, and considerable research in the archives of the Napa County Historical Society by Napa artist Miky Kravjansky for the concept behind this montage of early Napa.
Important personages represented include, from left, Napa County Sheriff D. A. Dunlap (with hat & moustache), Napa Mayor D. S. Kyser (with moustache & sideburns), Superior Court Judge Henry C. Gesford (with beard & shock of white hair) and Justice of the Peace (future State Senator) Nathan Coombs. The lady depicted on the page of the Napa Daily Journal is Lena A. Jackson, the then Superintendent of Schools.
Noteworthy buildings of the time are, from left, the Goodman Library, the Napa County Courthouse, the Migliavacca Mansion (all three are still standing) & the Central School. In the center, behind the courthouse & depicted in the distance, are some of the many spires of the "Insane Asylum", the city's largest employer of the time.
The glove and shoe in the Keigs Shoe Store ad are examples of goods manufactured locally and the Horse & Buggy, an example of the major mode of transportation. The "1900" wine cask and fresh fruit denote the large part agriculture played in those days. The lady & two children and the couple in the center are in the dress of the day & the foursome of "dandy" gentlemen are shown sampling wine, a pastime as popular then as it is today.
In recognition of their generosity in making this mural possible, the Napa Mural Society gives special thanks to:
Artist Miky Kravjansky, who donated his time and talent.
Bell Products, Inc., Jim Asbury, President, for the installation.
Superior Paint of napa, Roger Langley, owner, for the paint.
Morris Brown Realty, building owners, for providing the location.
Napa City Council, for their support of the mural project.
The Napa Chamber of Commerce, for making it all possible.
Stop by and check it out. There is street parking.
[Review 17592 overall - 387 in California - 1110 of 2022.]