Danville, Illinois.

On a fall trip in 2022, we crossed several Great Lakes states on our way to New York. One of the cities on our route was Danville, Illinois. The city boasts a vibrant collection of murals, particularly thanks to a public art project in 2010 known as the “Walldogs” event. The large-scale artworks add color and character to the city and tell stories about its history, culture, and residents. Over 125 artists contributed to the project leaving behind 15 stunning murals. The murals showcase various themes, from historical figures and local landmarks to whimsical scenes and playful characters. Since the project, many more murals have been added over the years. For today’s Travel Tuesday post, I present for your review a glimpse into the world of Danville’s murals.

Chuckles Candy was born in Danville in 1921, where the factory on North Griffin Street became the sole producer of Chuckles for decades, employing hundreds of local residents. Even though Chuckles are no longer made in Danville, the candy remains a cherished piece of the city’s history. Local businesses still occasionally sell vintage Chuckles packaging and memorabilia. The Chuckles mural in the opening photo is one of the original 15 Walldog creations.

One of the Walldog murals features six well-known performers from Danville. From left to right, Bobby Short, Jerry Van Dyke, Dick Van Dyke, Gene Hackman, Donald O’Connor, and Helen Morgan. I leave it to you, dear reader, to look up the biographies of these Danville celebrities.

I looked up Guerdon Hubbard to find out his connection to Danville. G.S. Hubbard was instrumental in the growth of Chicago, but nothing I found related to Danville until I saw this statement in Wikipedia’s biography here. “After he walked for 75 miles (121 km) in a single night to warn the town of Danville, Illinois, of an impending raid by Indians, he earned the nickname “Pa-pa-ma-ta-be,” or “Swift-Walker.”” This mural is part of the original Walldogs project.

Another of the Walldog project murals depicts the Danville Baseball Stadium. According to the Danville Area Visitors Bureau website, the stadium was built in 1945 and opened in 1946 as a Brooklyn Dodgers farm location. Home to many minor league teams in its history, the Stadium has rostered over 100 major league players and/or coaches. In 1947, the Major League Brooklyn Dodgers played an exhibition game with the Danville Dodgers. Brooklyn’s roster included players like Carl Furillo, Duke Snider, Peewee Reese, and Jackie Robinson.

The Danville Oldsmobile Balloon Classic was a premier hot air balloon competition held in Illinois for over a decade, starting in 1987. It was known for its innovative features, such as the first organized night race, the women’s championship race, and the public art exhibit of balloons in the sky. The event was so popular that it was even immortalized in a mural. Today, the tradition continues in the form of the Balloons Over Vermilion event, held each July.

Though the “Walldogs” event marked a significant event for Danville, the city’s mural scene extends beyond it. Several other murals have been added over the years, thanks to local artists and initiatives. These newer additions often reflect contemporary themes and community stories. We arrived in Danville on a quiet Sunday morning and we were easily able to gather mural images with little to no traffic in our way, automobile or pedestrian.

John Steiner