Mural Tour of Downtown Modesto
By Middagh Goodwin Photos by Middagh Goodwin
Take a walking or, even better, a bike tour of the Murals of Modesto. There is so many located Downtown that it is the perfect start to enjoy the 100 public art pieces found around Modesto. You can start at any point but let’s begin on 7th Street, the Pursaution Brewing Parrot. Then a block over and up the bright Modesto, California mural on the back of Redeemers on 8th between G and H Streets. Swing by Urbano’s, located across from the back of the Gallo Center and check out a very cool Cat. Head over to 9th and I Street and Bauer’s for a pair of incredible murals on the front, a beautiful train and on the rear an excellent interpretation of the Valley with the Modesto Arch, a nod to American Graffiti and California poppies. At this point, I would recommend travelling up to J Street and checking out the mural across from 18Seventy Brewing and on the side of Ralston’s Goat, a piece entitled Pollination. Next, head down 10th back towards I Street and check out about a dozen pieces in the alley that Ls back around to J Street. Several vibrant pieces cover three walls painted by world-renowned muralists, including a tribute to Modesto’s own George Lucas and Star Wars. Head up J St to 11th and take a left to check out the mural at Commonwealth(looking like a pub crawl at this point, and why not create one.) Head back to J Street and check out the 57 Chevy painted on the side of the Chamber of Commerce building, you can follow the alley over to I Street, and you will see the Harvest Moon mural. Travel up a block and turn left on 13th and J and see another tribute to American Graffiti and the 32 Duece Coupe. A half a block from there, you will view the newest murals downtown located behind the State Theatre. Continue up J Stree to 15th on the side of Dewz to find a beautiful mural depicting the Modesto Arch and the bounty of the San Joaquin Valley. On the other side of the building heading towards McHenry, you will see another tribute to cruising and the MPOA. On 16th Street, there is another locomotive mural.
Several others are nearby, including an automotive mural at Neville Brothers and a little further down a tribute to Yosemite and Royal Robbins. Head the other way on Downey, and you will encounter the remarkable monkey and Forbidden Lands murals. Finally, head up McHenry, and you will see several more murals depicting Modesto’s cruising culture.
Several of the murals have been sponsored by ModestoView along with other community-oriented businesses
