A public mural project in downtown State College will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States while showcasing great works of American art from Penn State’s Palmer Museum.
Downtown State College Improvement District is partnering with the Palmer Museum of Art on the project, with assistance from 3 Dots Downtown and financial support from the Knight Foundation Fund at Centre Foundation, DSCID Executive Director Lee Anne Jeffries told State College Borough Council on Monday night.
“Looking at US” will include 10 to 12 murals, all but two or three of which will be outdoors on downtown buildings, that replicate American-made works from the Palmer collection. Inspired by a similar initiative at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, DSCID and the Palmer began collaborating in 2024 and decided the America 250 celebration in 2026 would be an ideal time for the project.
“We’ve worked to carefully identify curated works from the Palmer, and they really reflect both the diversity of the State College community and the complexity of our American history,” Jeffries said. “And really, they span from the colonial era to contemporary art.”
Interpretive labels on the installation will include include the title, artist and a QR code with a link to the Palmer Museum piece.
“So hopefully people that see them downtown will then go to the museum and visit them,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries said that the installations will have the full list of murals and locations, and that the project team hopes to have an “art walk-style” map as a guide. She added that they also would like to have “living artists that are represented come and do collaborative programs and talks, really kind of furthering that public engagement piece of it.”
The murals are intended to be “semi-permanent works,” that will last for years to come, Jeffries said, and property and business owners are already on board with the project
The project, which is tentatively planned to have a ribbon-cutting in June, is an opportunity to look back and forward, she said.
“Large scale murals featuring excerpts of American artwork from the Palmer’s Museum of Art invite us to look back, look inward and look ahead, transforming outdoor public spaces and local businesses into vibrant cultural destinations,” Jeffries said. “Guided by our community-driven working group and funded by the Knight Fund at Centre Foundation, the project brings a diversity of American identities into public space, activating downtown State College as a hub for connection and cultural engagement.”
The murals will be promoted as part of the countywide commemoration of the nation’s semiquincentennial, said Ed Stoddard, communications director for the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau and Centre County advisor for the statewide America250PA organizing efforts.
America 250 efforts in Centre County got underway last May with the dedication of a Liberty Tree on the grounds of the Centre Furnace Mansion in State College. In November and December, America250PA and Centre County organizations unveiled four artist-designed commemorative Liberty Bells honoring local history — part of the Bells Across PA initiative — at Centre Furnace Mansion, Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village in Howard, downtown Philipsburg and the Bellefonte Train Station.
The America250PA – Centre County committee, a group of more than two dozen local stakeholders, will continue commemoration initiatives now in the semiquincentennial year, celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary while showcasing Centre County’s past, present and future contributions to America, Stoddard said.
Events being planned for 2026 include a free concert at the Bryce Jordan Center and activities connected to the the Central PA 4th Fest parade in downtown State College; the State Games of America, which will be held in Centre County for the first time July 24 to Aug. 2; and Centre County Grange Fair, Aug. 21-29
“This is designed to highlight the county’s transformation over two-and-a-half centuries, tracing its roots in iron making, agriculture, community development through to modern day innovation, sustainability and higher education,” he said. “By embracing the county’s then and now story, participants can see firsthand how cultural traditions and historical achievements stand alongside contemporary progress, exemplifying Centre County’s role in shaping both Pennsylvania and the country at large.”
America250PA will hold a Centre County kickoff event at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 28 at the Centre County Courthouse. RSVPs are requested here.
