Recent News

Here's a Sneak Peak at what's to come at the museum!

–Excerpt from Museum Newsletter – Volume: 1; Issue: 1; Page 2

What a whirlwind year this has been for the mural and sign art museum in Pontiac, Illinois —new exhibits, international artists, and thousands of visitors from all of the world! Many would say it would be hard to top 2010, our grand opening year, but just wait….we have some VERY exciting projects in the works that will surely be exhilarating…and not to mention…once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

The museum committee is hard at work planning for special events and unique museum displays. One of the BIGGEST happenings of the year will take place the first weekend of May during the Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Event. Pontiac, Illinois, will be finishing the last mural art piece created by the late Bob Waldmire. Yes, YOU are invited to help finish Bob’s artwork by painting on his mural! This will certainly be an international event you don’t want to miss! In addition, that will also be the weekend for the launch of a brand new Route 66 Tour. “1,000 Miles of Murals—Pontiac to Tucumcari” a mural experience tour along the Mother Road will be unveiled. Furthermore, a special exhibit in the museum will feature the Beverly Sign Company—including hundreds of original billboard advertising sketches! WOW, and to think this only scratches the surface of what’s to come!

–Excerpt from Museum Newsletter – Volume: 1; Issue: 1 

What is the International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum in Pontiac, Illinois? It is the first museum internationally dedicated specifically to the craft of mural and sign art painting! The museum offers several exhibits depicting the craft of mural and sign art painting, how it has evolved over the years, and the different methods in which murals and sign art are created. The museum has several unique pieces including a 1940’s image projector, an authentic swing stage, several photos of unique wall advertising, and even black light art by Beijing artist Tang Dongbai. The museum is receiving art almost daily from artists all over the world. Art on exhibit is either donated or loaned to the museum. In addition to the spectacular displays, the museum has a vast array of unique art for sale. Various artists have their remarkable artwork for sale in the museum. Artwork includes: oil on canvas, pen & ink, hand painted & custom signs, Rt. 66 memorabilia, hand crafted jewelry, and much more!  There is much to see when you enter the doors of the International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum. We invite you to share in this very unique experience in Pontiac, Illinois!

Happy New Year! What’s new in 2011 here at the museum?….well, to start, we’re launching our Museum Newsletter! The publication will include museum happenings, events, information on special exhibits, feature unique art for sale, and much more. We hope you find this newsletter informative and enjoyable to read. We welcome 2011 and we welcome you to visit the Mural & Sign Art Museum in Pontiac, Illinois!

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“Tourism & Technology” Seminar by the University of Illinois in Pontiac! Wednesday, December 22nd @ Pontiac City Council Chambers from 10am – 12pm. Come hear a presentation discussing & demostrating Web 2.0 technologies for tourism promotion at the community and destination/business levels. All are welcome to attend this FREE seminar!

The museum invites all to enjoy a special holiday performance by Pontiac Junior High School musicians on: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17TH @ 10:30AM! All are welcome! Happy Holidays!

New Winter Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 4pm

Come check out the mural museum!! Learn what a “walldog” is and even find a cool piece of art to take home with you! Happy Holidays!

Have you met our friendly ghost in the International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum?  Pontiac, Illinois is filled with many friendly ghost stories, but one famous one stands out above all because if its significance to the brand new museum that is located in Downtown Pontiac. Little did the town of Pontiac know that the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum would have a ghost of its own! In April of 2010, one week before the Grand Opening of the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum, the city workers made the discovery of a lifetime. While preparing the space, a group of workers in the back of the museum began removing the plaster off one of the back walls. Now, the building in which the museum is located, was built in 1905. So the wall in which they were removing the plaster, was actually a brick exterior wall for the building next door. To everyone’s surprise….BOOO!!!!! Our museum ghost appeared!! Yes, a ghost mural, painted sometime prior to 1904 was revealed in the back of the museum! The ghost’s name is: Bremer’s Clothes for Gents. This was a clothing business in Downtown Pontiac located just next door to the museum in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Visitors from all over the world enjoy seeing the museum ghost. It is a great depiction of how sign painting was one of the prominent forms of advertising used over 100 years ago. The mural is called a “ghost mural” because of its faded and historic nature. What a find – so fitting for our mural museum!! We welcome all to come meet our friendly ghost mural in the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum!

Also, we’d love to hear about your ghost mural stories! There are thousands of these historic, faded murals around the world…and each tells a story! Have a picture? Send them to the museum: 217 N Mill Street, Pontiac, IL 61764 or kristen@muralmuseum.com. Let the “Scary Ghost Mural” stories begin!

Happy Scary Mural Month!

Just posted by the Smithsonian Magazine…September 25th marks the 6th annual Museum Day!  Museum Day is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian Media in which participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket – http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/

There are many wonderful museums across the world working to preserve and exhibit collections for all to enjoy. We invite you to participate in “Museum Day”.  Head out to a museum near you and check out what they have!

The International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum offers FREE admission EVERY day…so come and enjoy! The museum is receiving artwork almost daily – so there is bound to be something new to see every time you walk through the doors!

Happy Museum Day! Check out a museum near you!

Pontiac Walldogs, the Diaz Family of Diaz Sign Art, are at it again in Downtown Pontiac, IL! Extending the alleyway mural art behind the Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame is the topic at hand.  The Diaz Family (Bill, Jane, Ben, and Joe Diaz) are creating yet another phenomenal mural. The mural depicts an old-time garage theme with the name Daniel’s Oil Company. The new mural is located just left of the Roszell’s Soda Fountain mural. Come watch the local Walldogs paint on Pontiac’s 2010 mural!