World War II mural on US Post Office wall

The post office in our town has a unique piece of art on the wall!

"Conservation of Wild Life" mural on post office wall.

Painted in 1940 by artist Lee Allen, the mural on the U.S. Post Office in Emmetsburg, Iowa is called "Conservation of Wild Life."

Throughout the United States—on post office walls large and small—are scenes reflecting America's history and way of life. Post offices built in the 1930s during Roosevelt's New Deal were decorated with enduring images of the "American scene." (read more here)

Artist's signature and date

The dark square in upper right corner behind the squirrel's tail shows how dark and damaged the mural was before cleaning/restoring it approximately 15 years ago.

What I initially thought was a WPA (Works Progress Administration) mural, I discovered was actually funded through commissions under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts or The Section) -- and not the WPA.

The "Section's" primary function was to decorate public buildings with selective high quality art to make the art accessible to everybody.

While in the post office to take my photos, one of the employees gave me a little more information. About 15 years ago, the painting was professionally cleaned and restored. Over the years, contributors to air pollution (cigarette smoke, etc.) had dirtied the painting. She pointed out a dark square in the upper right hand corner. The square was left to show the damage before the mural was cleaned.

There are less than 40 of these murals in the Iowa post offices. It is pretty awesome to have one in our town.

Thanks for visiting!