Wheat Center Historic Mural - Hoisington

“Wheat Center,” a “Section Art” mural was painted by artist Dorothea Tomlinson as part of the U. S. Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture program. When it was installed in 1938, the 12’ x 5’ canvas was glued to the east wall of the Hoisington Post Office lobby above the postmaster’s door and the original bulletin board. It is an oil on canvas mural that depicts a panoramic view of a harvest threshing scene as if seen from a hot air balloon. The artist wrote that the mural was taken from an original sketch  that she made in the field on a farm when they were harvesting.

A modern version showing the evolution of “Wheat Center” was painted by Hoisington High School art teacher Bob Booth in 1990. This triptych mural is displayed on the west wall of the post office lobby. The Hoisington Post Office Building and the “Wheat Center” mural were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 17, 1989.

Wheat Center Historic Mural is found along the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway. Along the byway, you'll encounter landscapes and communities shaped by the powerful forces of motion and change. You're entering a region formed by ancient and ongoing geological movement, a land of stunning bird migrations, of wild winds, and weather, and of richly layered human history. The road moves through radiant wetlands exploding with wildlife; prairie vistas with immense blue skies; and seven rural communities shaped by nature and the entrepreneurial spirit. The inland salt marshes that anchor this drive, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, are international birders treasures nestled in the heart of America and the Central Flyway. Plan your other stops along the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway here.