Hand-painted on one of the oldest buildings in Fishers, the 24 x 30-foot mural pays homage to the vibrant past and present of Fishers. You can’t miss the bright colors as you pass along the Nickel Plate Trail in downtown Fishers.
The mural was commissioned and donated to the community by the Reid family from Fishers. Christopher Reid is the CEO of CRG residential. The project was curated with the assistance of Ross Hilleary, Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Fishers. Casey and Corey Wilkinson are twin brothers and graphic designers who have worked with the communities of Hamilton County since the early 2000s. The mural’s artists founded The Wilkinson Brothers’ graphic design and illustration studio in Fishers in 2003.
The illustration was created on the computer, then projected and traced onto the 24×30-foot wall at night. The colors were hand-painted with brushes and rollers.
The Wilkinson Brothers aimed to take a nostalgic approach to the mural. “We love the power of nostalgia and completely understand that it affects people differently. Some may see our painted train and feel wistful, missing the presence of a lumbering engine screeching by on metal rails. Others may see the Nickel Plate engine as a respectful homage to the community’s roots, a nod to how ‘Fisher’s Switch’ was a worthy stop on someone’s journey.”
Each element of the mural is inspired by Fishers’ monuments and resident lifestyle. The people featured in the mural are no exception, as the cyclists represent the carefree spirit that all residents and visitors can pursue in Fishers. You may recognize the pilot as the city’s first and current mayor, Scott Fadness. The Reid Family wanted to include Mayor Fadness to honor his efforts in the revitalization of downtown Fishers. Megan Baumgartner, Director of Economic and Community Development, has also been instrumental in providing service and partnership to entrepreneurs, innovative firms, and small businesses. Megan is pictured waving from the hot air balloon in the lower right corner.
The Wilkinson Brothers hope that whichever direction nostalgia takes you, that the mural evokes a “warmth from the past, a curiosity for Fishers’ history, and a hopeful feeling for what’s to come.” Visit the “Greetings from Fishers” Mural at 8684 E. 116th Street and check it out!
While you’re at the mural, see if you can find these tidbits here that pay homage to Fishers past and present.
- Fishers’ first and current mayor, Scott Fadness
- A cardinal, Indiana’s state bird
- A musical nod to the nearby Nickel Plate District Amphitheater
- Cyclists that represent a carefree spirit that all residents and visitors can pursue in Fishers
- The building the mural is painted on, built in 1913 for Fishers National Bank
- An 1880’s general store owned by Samuel Trittipo (learn more here)
- 1872: the town of Fisher’s Switch (or Fisher’s Station) was founded at 116th Street and the railroad by Salathiel Fisher (learn more here)
- 2015: The year the Town of Fishers officially became the City of Fishers
- The train, representing the city’s roots as a stop on the Nickel Plate Railroad (the now popular Nickel Plate Trail follows the original railway)
- A great blue heron, common to this area’s waterways, stands near the White River (The Wilkinson Brothers named him Fraunk, which is a noise these herons sometimes make)
- 1908: the year the post office changed the name of Fishers Switch to Fishers (back then, sending letters in the USA cost 2 cents per ounce)
- Mudsock: As far back as the horse and buggy days, Fishers’ nickname has been Mudsock (due to ankle-deep mud in the low-lying areas around the early railroad)
- The town’s founder, Salathiel Fisher, in the button right corner of the Fishers stamp
- The blue and brown houses representing Fishers at the top of lists for safety and best places to live
- An homage to the original, tethered, helium-filled balloon at Conner Prairie’s “1859 Balloon Voyage” exhibit
- Megan Baumgartner, Fishers’ Economic and Community Development Director in the hot air ballon
- Fishers has rich agricultural roots and still promotes farm life via its 33-acre AgriPark, one of the nation’s largest urban farms
Learn more about the mural at fishersmural.com.
Cami McGrady is a college intern for the City of Fishers Public Relations department. She is originally from Hillsboro, Indiana, and is a senior at Butler University. Cami is majoring in marketing and is a four-year member of Butler’s Women’s Swim Team. Outside of her internship, you can find Cami exploring coffee shops, hanging out with her family, or trying new restaurants with her friends. She loves the small town feel of Fishers and is excited to explore the city further.