Lebanon, the Heart of Kentucky, is home to murals. A bunch of murals. BIG murals. World-class murals. Come see ‘em for yourself. Bring your camera and get ready to have some fun. Here’s a look at each one, including the location and description of each mural.
MAKER’S MARK WATER TOWER MURAL
The water tower, at one of the major entrances to Lebanon and Marion County, tells the world that world-recognized Maker’s Mark is, indeed, in Marion County. The world famous distillery is near Loretto, and welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
The water tower, which can be seen as visitors enter Lebanon from KY 55, is rapidly becoming a landmark on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and is drawing nationwide recognition.
The mural, by nationally recognized artist and mural specialist Eric Henn of Ohio, turns the 135-foot water tower into the world’s largest bourbon pour. And a Maker’s Mark bourbon pour, at that, since the tower looks like a gigantic bottle, complete with signature red wax.
The tower is complete with a “selfie” photo station, which you’ll easily find, along with plenty of parking. And the tower has specialty lighting, to make it shine at night.
THE LEBANON POSTCARD MURAL
The first mural you’ll see as you enter downtown Lebanon via KY 55 is our giant Lebanon “postcard” mural. It’s an oversized billboard, actually, at the base of Spalding Avenue just before visitors/drivers enter downtown Lebanon.
Intertwined into the large “Lebanon” are Marion County’s attractions and unique features.
That mural has become a major “selfie photo” stop for visitors and locals alike, and the iconic image has become a staple on social media as people post their images online. The mural was done by Michael Cooper and his artists, all of Murals and More of Franklin, Tennessee. And they were commissioned to do the next one…
A “SALUTE TO THE BOURBON TRAIL” MURAL
The massive 48-foot by 13-foot “Salute to the Bourbon Trail” is in the absolute heart of downtown Lebanon, near the junction of Main and Proctor Knott. There’s plenty of free parking in the nearby City of Lebanon public parking lot.The “Salute to the Bourbon Trail” is destined to become a major tourist attraction, and highlighted on it, along with Maker’s Mark, is Lebanon’s own Independent Stave Company/Kentucky Cooperage bourbon barrel manufacturing heritage and Limestone Branch Distillery, the home of Yellowstone bourbon.
On the mural you’ll find represented every distillery that’s a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
To learn all about one of Kentucky biggest tourist draws, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, go right here: https://kybourbontrail.com.
It was Cooper and his company of artists who also did the next Lebanon, Heart of Kentucky mural…the biggest one of all!
THE “PLAY IN LEBANON” MURAL
To find this one, from the “Salute to the Bourbon Trail” mural walk south on South Proctor Knott for one-half block and there’s The Lebanon Enterprise building. Turn at the corner onto East Mulberry Street and the “Play in Lebanon” mural covers the entire side of the two-story building.
It’s a salute to Lebanon and Marion County’s rich sports heritage, and a salute to the wonderful recreational opportunities available in Lebanon. Just a few blocks south of this mural is the city’s wonderful Graham Memorial Park and Lebanon Aquatic Center.
THE “MARION COUNTY COUNTRY HAM DAYS” MURAL
This mural is just a short walk from our visitor’s center at the corner of Main St. and N. Spalding Ave. directly across from the Lebanon Post Office.
This mural was created in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Marion County Country Ham Days. Marion County Country Ham Days is held the last full weekend of September and celebrates all things ham. Ham Days is one of the oldest and most well known festivals in the state. It was selected as Kentucky Living’s best festival in Kentucky. The mural was once again designed and painted by Cooper and his team.
