City of Murals and Museums -- Toppenish, WA

by Carroll
(Columbus NM)

During April-September 2008 I mostly boon-docked (TX, KS, NE, SD, WY, MT, ID, WA, OR, ID, UT, WY (again), CO and NM, staying in 4 places with hookups (including dau/s-i-l driveway in Bothell, WA and w/SKP-BOF Elks at SKP's Escapade in Gillette, WY).

One of my pleasant surprises was arriving in Toppenish, WA on a Thursday in early June in time for their annual "Mural in a Day" program (accidental timing). This year's "Mural in a Day" is June 4-5, 2010. In 2008 about 11-12 artists (with probably 200-300 grandstand watchers viewing whatever time they had available....me: I had the whole weekend) painted an old west mural "Paradise Row" approximately 15ft X 35ft. Paradise Row was one of the earlier names of Toppenish.

Of Toppenish's 70+/- murals, possibly the largest mural is the "Trading with the Yakama" mural (1998)measuring 14ft X 209ft. Unfortunately, over the past many years some of the murals on houses and buildings have been torn down, painted over, etc..... One bank has put up a free-standing wall that is approximately 20ft X 100ft-just for "their mural" (of course with an "old west theme"). Most of the murals are located in downtown Toppenish and within a 4-5 block radius of the C of C. suggestion: google Toppenish murals

RVers entering Toppenish on I-80E would use exit/MM-50 (Hwy 97-S) and there is a free dump on the right side of the the road (Hwy 97) just before the railroad tracks and entering town. I went to the C of C for free brochures about area, murals, museums, Yakama (their spelling) Indian Nation's Casino, etc... There are two national auto-parts chain stores and I asked the manager of the store on SW part of Toppenish if I could stay (boon-dock) over night. He asked my hours. I said I'd arrive 1-3 hours after closing and depart 1 hour before he/his first employee arrived. He gave me permission to boon-dock for the T-F-S-S nights. Shining--------- (Good word, Brian.)

The Yakama Indians (or vice-versa Toppenish "city") co-ordinate the Yakama Nation's Cultural and Heritage Center's anniversary celebration and parade (30th this year) with the "Mural in a Day" painting. This year the YNCHC is June 4, 2010. When I was there the Yakama Nation's musuem was "free--no admission that day", lots of Indian artwork and crafts were for sale, the gift shop had a 10-20% discount on clothing, souvenirs, sodas-snacks, local Indians were selling fry bread, burritos, etc. An Indian representative said I could overnight at their casino (others were boondocking there), but I had made arrangements (ref. above) w/the Toppenish auto parts store. Yakama Nation also has an RV park w/FHUs.


If we lived in the Yakima--Tri-City area (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland) we'd go to the "Mural in a Day" painting every June. Then do like I did in 2008 and the following weekend attend the Bluegrass Festival and Dutch Oven Rendezvous at Sacajawea State Park (Pasco) at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. This year the Sacajawea SP Bluegrass Festival....is June 11-13, 2010.

Boy-o-boy, I wish I could be in this area again this year!!