By Don Steen
Staff Writer n reporter@psci.net
Motorists on Christmas Boulevard may have taken note of some new color on the landscape of the Town of Santa Claus. The east-facing wall of the new Spencer County Visitors Center now features both of the county’s most famous “residents”, Abe Lincoln and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.
The new mural is the work of Shelly Goodrich of Good Life Designs, and has been coming together over the past month. Goodrich worked to painstakingly bring these larger-than-life figures to life, despite the frequent rains and storms.
The left side of the mural is dedicated to Lincoln, featuring his childhood cabin, a book and the candle with which he read by as well as Lincoln’s own words, “There I grew up”. The east side includes Santa Claus himself, complete with a gingerbread man, a stocking, toys, candy and other festive flair. Collectively, the new mural highlights both America’s Christmas Hometown as well as the Lincoln State Park and Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial just down the road.
The Spencer County Visitors Bureau was awarded $2,488.50 by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation to undertake this project. The funding stems from the IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant.
The IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant aims to showcase local communities and connect them with the rest of the state using the IN Indiana identifier. The grants include a diverse group of locations and projects from urban to rural settings, in both large and small communities, in different regions of the state.
“The Indiana Destination Development Grant and IN Indiana Placemaking Activation Grant are designed to support local initiatives that drive tourism boost economic growth,” said Amy Howell, IDDC Interim CEO. “We are proud to partner with communities around Indiana through these grants to showcase what makes them special while creating a lasting impact for residents and visitors.”
The Spencer County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Thursday morning to celebrate the completion of new mural, and how far the visitors center has come since it first opened its doors in late 2023.
Featured Image: Artist Shelly Goodrich of Good Life Designs poses with her completed mural on the east-facing side of the new Spencer County Visitors Center. Below are photos of her hard at work over the past several weeks.
