It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is from the 1970s. Do you remember when the old Bank building on Main Street was painted in a colorful mural?

The mural was designed in 1975 by Sachio Yamashita and painted specifically for the upcoming bicentennial celebration of the United States in 1976. The project used some money from a grant meant for communities to celebrate the bicentennial. Needless to say, its colorful appearance and design did not please everyone and a number of letters to the editor of the Whitewater Register were highly uncomplimentary. Faculty from the UW-Whitewater, though, defended it for its artistic merit.

While most historic building experts do not recommend painting murals on buildings today, if this artwork still existed, it would probably be considered “historic” in its own right and worthy of preservation as an example of 1970s art done to celebrate the nation’s 200th birthday.