‘Father’ of Lincoln Highway mural goes up in Lynwood
BY SUSAN DEMAR LAFFERTY slafferty@southtownstar.com October 12, 2012 5:22PM
A mural featuring Carl G. Fisher, the “Father of the Lincoln Highway,” was installed Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Lynwood’s Senior/Youth Center building at 21490 E. U.S. 30. | Supplied image
Updated: November 16, 2012 6:06AM
The latest in a series of interpretive murals along the U.S. 30 scenic byway was installed Wednesday in Lynwood, the easternmost part of the highway in Illinois.
The mural, which features Carl G. Fisher, the “Father of the Lincoln Highway,” was installed at Lynwood’s Senior/Youth Center building at 21490 E. U.S. 30.
More than two dozen communities along the 179-mile route now feature the historic paintings.
According to the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition, the Lynwood mural brings to life the most important story in the highway’s history: how the Lincoln Highway began. It depicts elements of Fisher’s life that helped turn his dream of the first transcontinental highway into reality.
This is the sixth mural in the Southland, with others in Frankfort, New Lenox, Park Forest, Sauk Village and University Park. Chicago Heights, Matteson and Mokena will receive their murals before the end of the year.
All the Lincoln Highway murals were created by artist Jay Allen, owner of ShawCraft Sign Co., are valued at $10,000 each and were funded by a grant.
Upon completion, the series of murals will be one of the largest works of public art in the country, according to the coalition.
Each community receiving a mural is asked to designate representatives to work with the ILHC on the project, secure a building site for the mural, research stories and images that link their community to Lincoln Highway, and provide maintenance and preservation of the mural.
For more information on the Illinois Lincoln Highway, or to download an Illinois Lincoln Highway Visitor Guide, visit www.drivelincolnhighway.com.
