Call to Artists — Westerville’s Festival and Fair Grounds. One of Twelve Murals Planned For Semi-Quincentennial.
The Westerville History Museum and the City of Westerville invite artists to submit proposals for a mural capturing the spirit of community celebration, from 19th-century fairgrounds to the dazzling amusements of Minerva Park, as part of the America 250 Westerville History Mural Project, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
This mural will be one of nine works chosen from artist submissions that bring Westerville’s layered history to life.
The Festival and Fair Grounds mural will explore how residents gathered for competition, music, and spectacle at the Westerville Tri-County Fair and later at Minerva Park, an electric-era amusement resort that once drew crowds from across central Ohio.
Artists are encouraged to include imagery inspired by:
The Westerville Fairgrounds (founded 1871), with its racetrack, livestock shows, and exhibition halls.
Racehorse “Rowdy Boy”, memorialized after collapsing on the track in 1892.
Leonard Lust and Eva Nutt, the young couple, were married before thousands at the 1897 fair.
Minerva Park and Casino (opened 1895), featuring rides, gardens, a theatre, and swan boats.
The Columbus Central Electric Railway, which carried visitors between Columbus and Westerville to the park’s gates.
Reference photos include a sketch of the fairground grandstand (1895), an 1895 fair flyer, Rowdy Boy’s gravestone, Minerva Park Casino, and the trolley gates at Minerva Park.
Artists can access all information, including reference materials, photos, and submission guidelines, through the RFP at https://www.visitwesterville.org/250-2/.
Submissions are open through December 1, 2025. Selected artists will receive a $1,000 commission, with murals to be unveiled in 2026 as part of Westerville’s America 250 celebration.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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