Whaling Wall - New London, CT - Murals on Waymarking.com

Thirteen years ago, in July 1993, the world famous whale artist known by the single name of Wyland, spent one week in New London, Connecticut. He had come east from California to paint a series of giant, life-size whale murals on exterior building walls in the 15 states along the east coast of the United States.

The "Whaling City" of New London, once second only to New Bedford as an American whaling port, was chosen as the site for his Connecticut mural. The Sperm Whale, the species most hunted by Connecticut whalers in the 1800's, had been designated by the legislature in 1985 as Connecticut's official state animal. So this was the whale that Wyland selected to portray in a monumental painting on the 170-foot long and 40-foot high side of a large store at the corner of Eugene O'Neill Drive and State Street in the heart of the city.

For more than a decade, Wyland had been painting life-size whale murals on walls in cities around the world as part of a global effort to raise people's environmental consciousness. The New London Sperm Whale painting was his "Whaling Wall #41," created by Wyland and his crew in just one week's time, using spray paint guns and moveable scaffolding.

The mural was officially dedicated by then Connecticut Governor Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. on July 12, 1993, and became a city landmark and popular tourist attraction.

City: New London Location Name: Corner of ONeill and State Street Artist: Wyland Date: July 1993 Media: Paint Relevant Web Site: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/29/2023 nomadwillie visited it 05/07/2016 steveandrhonda visited it 07/06/2009 FreddieS visited it 03/14/2009 nomadwillie visited it

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