Call to Artists — Westerville’s Inventive Spirit and Games. 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 celebrating the inventive spirit that once made Westerville a hub of American play, 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 Games mural will highlight the early 20th-century era when Westerville manufacturers revolutionized toys, play, and recreation for millions of children across the country. From wooden scooters and dollhouse furniture to toy trucks, model airplanes, and cap guns, Westerville’s factories helped define childhood for generations.
Artists are encouraged to include imagery inspired by:
Hance Manufacturing Company, maker of the wooden GoCycle scooter (1912), which sold more than 200,000 units nationwide and could even be fitted with skate runners for snow and ice.
J.W. Hance Foundry, whose workers built the frames and hardware that brought these toys to life.
Kilgore Manufacturing Company, known for toy trucks, dollhouse furniture, and paper airplanes like the E-Z Fly, along with its production of cap pistols and ammunition caps by the thousands each day.
Sanders Frye, Westerville inventor who patented an early automatic bowling pinsetter later sold to the company that became AMF Bowling Centers.
Reference photos include images of GoCycle scooters and skate attachments, Hance factory interiors, Kilgore employees in 1937, the J.W. Hance Foundry building, toy trucks, dollhouse furniture, and the E-Z Fly paper airplane.
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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