Harlingen, Texas is a fascinating place. Dozens of colorful murals decorate buildings throughout the city. Here you’ll find beautiful paintings of tropical birds and Aztec legends. Marvel at quiet vignettes of everyday life in rural Mexico. Feel the compassion in a stark depiction of the biblical tale of the Good Samaritan. Use this guide to spend a few hours or a few days in Harlingen discovering an abundance of creative talent. Enjoy learning about our hopes and our heritage, our accomplishments and our concerns.

1.Valley International Airport Terminal Lobby This fabulous mural was created by artist John Aretakis in 2002, soon after the Michigan artist moved to the Valley. The vintage look is reminiscent of the “romantic” travel posters used to promote the region in the 1930s and 40s. The mural pays homage to the Valley’s strong musical traditions, anchored by accordion-based conjunto music.

2.Marine Military Academy Messhall 320 Iwo Jima Boulevard Murals by Harlingen artist and art teacher Dan McBain were commissioned in 1987 to enliven 60-foot wide spaces at each end of the mess hall. Parade depicts 120 cadets standing at attention in front of the Iwo Jima Monument, with a 8’ tall ghost image of a cadet on the far left. The Birthday Ball mural captures the pomp and ceremony of the Academy’s annual celebration.

3.Su Clinica Familiar 1706 Treasure Hills Blvd. Murals in the pediatrics lobby were painted by Harlingen artist Kathy Schwarz prior the building’s opening in 2003.

4.First Community Bank 806 S. 77 Sunshine Strip This mural by Dan McBain is a tribute to the community’s strong religious heritage. It was painted in about nine days, prior to the bank’s 2000 opening. In addition to First Presbyterian Church and St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in San Benito, the mural features three Harlingen steeples: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, and Immaculate heart of Mary Catholic Church.

5.Harlingen Pediatrics Associates 321 S 21st Street Murals in the lobby were painted in 2001 to delight the facility’s young customers and their families. The colorful jungle scene is by Mario Morales of Brownsville; the seascape by Kathy Schwarz.

6.Quips & Quotes 709 S. Coronado Plaza Dan McBain painted the ceiling here when the store was remodeled in 1998. It features Harlingen’s official city bird, the Great Kiskadee, and other Valley specialties. A guardian angel watches over customers and staff.

7.Athletix Gym 723 N. 77 Sunshine Strip Ramon Claudio of San Benito painted the murals here in June 2002. The owner wanted artwork to inspire patrons, especially those in spinning class.

8.Alicia’s Mexican Restaurant 324 N. Commerce Harlingen artist Manuel Vargas painted two murals here in 1995, showing vignettes of life in rural Mexico.

9.Goss Printing 413 W. Jackson The large mural on the side of the building shows machines and processes involved in graphic design and printing. It was created in 1997 by a Harlingen High School student. Brownsville artist Jorge Mojica and members of his band, Los Mojicas, painted the graphic on the front.

10.Heritage Park Along the tracks between Jackson and Van Buren The Early Days, painted in 2001 by Jermain Steed of Davenport, Iowa depicts aspects of Harlingen’s founding and early years. The calm waters of the Arroyo Colorado and a man representing the Hispanic pioneers who first settled the area are central images. The steam locomotive signifies the coming of the railroad in 1904. City founder Lon C. Hill watches over the town ‘s development. The city’s tallest building is shown under construction, representing Harlingen at the height of optimism prior to the Great Depression and the devastating 1933 hurricane.

11.Grande Theatre 507 W. Harrison Never Give Up was painted in 1999 by Carlos Ruiz of Santa Maria. He inscribed the message in the lower left corner of the mural, which depicts the parable of the Good Samaritan, a biblical tale of brotherhood and compassion.

12.Cobblehead’s 1601 W. Harrison The massive cityscape on the wall of this popular eatery was painted by Brownsville artist Marcus Blackwell prior to the restaurant’s opening in 1998. It incorporates a few Harlingen landmarks.

13.Cinemark 16 601 S. Expressway 83 Golden Age of Cinema is a montage of famous theatres, painted in 1999 by Dallas artist Gregory Arth. Arth was commissioned by Cinemark to create murals for the theatre lobbies nationwide.

14.Fairwinds Golf Course and Driving Range 2524 Spur 54 In October 2001, the owner hired Manuel Vargas to paint this scene of a tropical paradise. Though modeled on a magazine image, the palm trees give it a local flavor.

15.Spanky’s Ice Cream 2213 W. Lincoln The dramatic sunset on the far wall was painted by Gabby Blanchard, a Harlingen High School student, prior to the store’s opening in 2003.

16.La Malinche Tortilla Factory 620 S. F Street This mural shows the business’ namesake serving in her traditional role as interpreter between Moctezuma and Cortes. It painted by Ramon Claudio of San Benito in 1995

17.De La Cruz Mechanic & Machine Shop 502 W. Tyler The mural depicts the Aztec legend of the founding of Tenochitian (Old Mexico City). Divine prophecy directed the Aztecs to settle where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus, his wings stretched out toward the rays of the sun. It was painted by Ramon Claudio in 1995.

18.Clean Scene Laundry Supercenter 819 W. Tyler A Mexican artist passing through Harlingen in 1998 painted the beautiful mural on the exterior of this business others inside. Painting of the business’ products, including bottled water and ice appear over the entrances.

19.America’s Restaurant 502 W. Tyler The scenes of rural Mexico on the walls here were painted by Angel Hernandez of Brownsville.

20.Bowie Elementary 306 W. Lincoln In 1928, the Harlingen Independent School District commissioned a colorful cast-concrete frieze by Luis Lopez Sanchez for the new South Ward School (now Bowie Elementary). Rich in Mexican and Mexican-American motifs, Aztec designs and Toltec images, the unique façade reflects ancient beliefs that snakes symbolized wisdom and knowledge.

21.Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce 311 E. Tyler On display here are photos of The History of Mexico and Mankind, a tile mural created in 1975 by the late Raul S. Esparza of Torreon, Mexico. It was acquired by the City of Harlingen in 2000 and will be installed in the downtown historic district.

22.Hibernia Bank 221 E. Van Buren Harlingen artist Normah Knight’s spectacular 38’ x 11’ mural weaves mythical figures into a fascinating portrayal of the Valley’s agricultural and industrial growth. Commissioned in 1951 for First National Bank, the mural was donated to the U.S. Post Office in 1965 and moved to this location. It chronicles the development of irrigation systems, railroads and airports in the Valley, and the building of cotton gins and grain elevators.

23.Antiques & Artisian Emporium 123 E. Jackson This colorful mural, created in 2004 by John Aretakis, depicts Harlingen activities and attractions, including birding, fishing, golfing and antiquing. The City has long been promoted as the Tropical Playground of Texas.

24.Cossey’s Creations 113 E. Jackson Development of the Bottling Industry, by Normah Knight, was commissioned by the RC Cola Bottling Plant in 1954 to document the production process. The mural decorated the walls of this important Harlingen business, located at 601 N. 77 Sunshine Strip (now Blockbuster Video) until it closed in 1981. Hometown Pleasures was commissioned by the business owners in 2003 to celebrate values important to them: faith and family, home, and hearth. Harlingen artist Mayte Zebrowski painted this mural.

25. Rialto Theatre 101 W. Jackson The Golden Age of Hollywood and Mexican Cinema in Harlingen features images of mid-century Harlingen movie theatres, movie stars, and movie posters. It was created by artist Angel Hernandez in 2004 under the auspices of the Harlingen Mural Project. It is on the east side of the city's first movie theatre.

26. Bargain Safari Jackson & "A" Streets In October 2003, Harlingen unveiled a mural tribute to its most famous resident, the late Bill Haley, known as the "Grandfather of Rock 'n' Roll." Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and his Comets in July 1955 became the first rock 'n' roll record to achieve Number One status on the bestseller lists and become the first international rock 'n' roll hit. Artist John Aretakis created the mural in 2003, under the auspices of the Harlingen Mural Project.

27.Bernal’s Mexican Restaurant 210 E. Jackson Harlingen artist Nancy Russell painted her first mural here in 1993 while the building was being renovated for the restaurant. The Bernals wanted the décor to have the look and feel of their native Mexico.

28.Jackson Street Antiques 218 W. Jackson In 1945 the Holsum Baking Company hired Normah Knight to paint the 65’ long Story of Bread mural for the lobby of its new facility at 1500 W. Harrison. Over the years it captivated thousands of schoolchildren and visitors who toured the bakery until it closed in 1996. The mural chronicles the history of bread making.

29.The Literacy Center 101 E. Monroe Building a Community of Learners was created during the 1997 Jackson Street Jubilee by California artist Phil Yeh, and community volunteers. From 1985-2000, the internationally-acclaimed artist and author toured the U.S. painting murals to call attention to illiteracy. Look for Yeh’s trademark dinosaurs and the slogan, Read: Avoid Extinction.

30.Texas Air Museum F.M. 106 seven miles east of Harlingen The 12’ x 40’ mural in the Early Aviation Hanger was created by museum volunteer Javier Vega of Rio Hondo in 1994, in 1994 to depict key events in the Mexican Revolution. It shows the world’s first aerial dogfight, in which both factions took to the air and fired pistols at one another.

Back a Page  |  Top of Page