Downtown mural tours start July 11. (submitted image: The Museum and Archives of Vernon)

By Pete McIntyre

Local history

Vernon mural tours return for summer

Jul 6, 2023 | 12:00 PM

It’s a way to learn more about Vernon’s history and view some great works of art.

The Museum and Archives of Vernon (MAV) is once again offering its historic downtown mural tours this summer, starting Tuesday, July 11.

The tours, which have to be pre-booked, will be held on Tuesday evenings and Friday mornings, rain or shine. Click here for details.

Three guides will lead groups on-foot through downtown Vernon, as well as back-in-time as the city’s history is explored through the details of the more than two dozen murals.

“We are so pleased to bring the tours back for another summer,” Head of Archives, Gwyneth Evans, said. “Especially since the museum building is closed right now as we undergo some much-needed renovations, they provide us with an opportunity to continue connecting with our community.”

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The tour guides will tell the stories about the people shown in the murals with historical references to businesses, architecture, and other interesting tales.

All but one of the 28 downtown murals were completed by muralist Michelle Loughery, beginning in 1998 when she approached the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA) with the idea of a youth engagement and downtown revitalization initiative.

“Loughery and her crew worked closely with our Archives team at the time,” Evans said. “The murals are all based off of historic photographs in our archival collection, and the attention to detail is incredible.”

Evans said local residents can sometimes take the murals for granted, as they pass by them everyday.

“But when you take a moment to slow down and look at them closely, and learn just who the people staring back at you are, you develop a greater appreciation for our city’s historic roots, as well as the efforts that went in to creating these murals,” she remarked.

For more details and to book a mural tour, click here.

*Please note that tours must be pre-booked, and will not run if there are no bookings.