Anniversary event set for river wall murals

Has it really been 10 years since Cape's downtown floodwall was painted with murals?

History moves on, and the Mississippi River murals themselves have become part of ours.

If you've spent any time downtown, you've seen the popularity of the murals. There are 24 of them and each portrays a moment in the history of the river and our region.

The murals are not just impressive from an artistic point of view -- indeed they are very creative and skillfully done -- they tell a story, inform and preserve our culture. Many local historians and artists were assembled for the project, and the stories selected were spot on.

The murals have become part of the fabric of our city. What was once a drab, gray concrete wall that separated people from the river, the murals now offer an invitation to know more. When you observe the history through the art, it makes walking through the floodgates and walking the trail that much more enjoyable. The murals were worth every penny.

To celebrate the murals, and, more specifically, the people who made them possible, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape will hold a 10-year commemoration ceremony at 2 p.m. July 30 in the parking lot at the corner of Water and Themis streets. The event is open to the public.

The guest list includes muralist and lead artist Tom Melvin; Tim Blattner, the River Heritage Mural Association president; and many of the original sponsors.

If you haven't checked out the murals in a while, July 30 would be a good time to revisit the wall, and our history with the Mighty Mississippi.