The Freedom Farm Thrift Store is located on the side of 421 in Vilas, North Carolina. There is a large painting on the front of the building that depicts an abstract picture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which was designed and painted by Watauga students. Having this art is important for honoring such a special part of Watauga's culture. The painting was done by juniors Selah Greer, Sofia McEvoy, and Carrie Visser, which makes this mural extra special.

The new extension of the local greenway, completed over the past summer, is full of beautiful art.  Not only does a walk on the Blowing Rock extension of the greenway take you through some of the most stunning natural areas in the county, but it also displays a mural of multiple animals that live in the area. Created by Whitney Landwehrmann, the mural includes various types of flowers, fish, and mammals, which brighten the otherwise gray tunnel.  Having this art in such a popular spot in Watauga County allows a lot of people to see it and enjoy the different paintings. 

Doc and Merle Watson were both beloved musicians and citizens of Boone and can be seen in multiple pieces of art around the town. This painting, located on Howard Street, is part of a larger collection of murals created by Scott Nurkin. Nurkin is on a mission to paint local musicians in towns all over North Carolina. 

He began painting the murals in 2020, but didn't start the Watsons until this past summer. Having only started the painting on the week of May 29 and finishing it on June 5, Nurkin was able to create a mural which covers the entire side of a building and tells the story of the beloved musicians with a background of dogwood flowers and featuring Doc's guitar. The mural is a beautiful way to capture the importance that this family holds in Boone's musical culture, while also decorating an otherwise brick wall with a beautiful painting.

A large mural, featuring two hellbenders, which is a local, endangered species of Watauga County, tells the story of what a local river ecosystem might look like.  The mural is part of a larger project that aims to bring wildlife and art together to bring attention to endangered species within the United States. 

This painting was the first large-scale project for artist Josh Johnston; however, he was able to pull off its creation with perfection. Due to its location being just off the main street of downtown Boone, the painting gets a lot of attention from both locals and tourists. 

Hellbenders are a large part of the Watauga community, as many people love the outdoors and local rivers, so the painting is incredibly relevant and moving for all the people who see it. Having this art in such a focal point of the town brings people together to appreciate and respect the nature that lives in this area.

This beautiful stair mural combines various geometric shapes and alternative colors to create a piece of art that can be both viewed and used.  The mural, designed and painted by Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn, was completed in 2020. The painting has become a beloved art piece by Boone locals and brings character and charm to what would have otherwise been a basic set of stairs. 

Unterhlter and Truhn have created multiple murals together, all of which follow a similar aesthetic and style.  The use of bright colors draws attention to this particular painting when in contrast to the other buildings and stairs along the main road of downtown Boone.

The Junaluska mural is a town treasure that holds historical significance for people living in the community. The mural features members of the Junaluska community from the 1960s-70s, which was a time of complete segregation within the town. Since then, Boone has become far more diverse, but the Junaluska neighborhood still cherishes the history of its foundation and the families who have lived there for generations. 

Capturing history in this way allows for its preservation to be both a statement and a source of enjoyment.  For the people in the community, having a mural that commemorates their history shows a sign of respect, remembrance, and hope for the future.