The Wayne Henderson mural in Independence turned out to be one of those pieces that feels like it…read moreshowed up exactly where it belongs. It fills the side of Skyline National Bank with a big, warm portrait of Wayne Henderson with guitar in hand. Scott Nurkin pained it with the same clean, confident style he uses in his North Carolina musician series murals. Even though this one is in Virginia and not part of that official series, it sits close enough to the state line that it feels like a natural extension of the project. The mural is undated but recent since the November 2024 Google Street View still shows a blank wall, and that freshness gives it a nice sense of momentum, like the town decided that it was time to put its musical heritage out in the open. It adds personality to downtown Independence and makes the bank wall feel like a landmark instead of just a building. Check https://www.instagram.com/themuralshop/ for more of the mural painter's work and https://www.waynehenderson.org/wayne-henderson/ for more Wayne Henderson. [Review 890 of 2026 - 1541 in Virginia - 26071 overall]

Located right next to the main intersection in the center of Sparta, this fabulous mural of Art…read moreWooten helps travelers to understand the impact of North Carolina music on the art. It shows Wooten with fiddle in hand, looking into the eyes of the viewer. The mural itself is clear and in excellent condition, painted two stories tall on a brick wall. Art Wooten comes across as one of those North Carolina musicians whose legacy feels bigger than the footprint he left behind, a fiddler whose work with early string bands helped shape the region's sound even if his name isn't always the first one people remember. He played with groups like the Sons of the Carolinas and the early iterations of what would become the Blue Sky Boys, bringing a clean, confident fiddle tone that fit perfectly into the state's old‑time and early country traditions. What stands out most is how his playing bridged the gap between dance‑floor energy and radio‑era polish, giving his recordings a warmth that still feels unmistakably Appalachian. Even in a crowded field of mid‑century musicians, Wooten's contributions hold up as a reminder of how much of North Carolina's musical identity was built by players who simply showed up, played well, and left a mark that lasted. The mural is by artist S. Nurkin and is part of the North Carolina Musician Murals. You'll find it behind the candle shop. [Review 882 of 2026 - 4773 in North Carolina - 26063 overall]

The Art Wooten Mural is located in downtown Sparta. I had a little trouble finding this one,…read morethough. All I knew was that it was on the side of the Sparta Candle Building, but from the street, there was no side. It is on the "side" of the building, but in the back, and I could not see it from the corner. This is the 16th mural painted on the North Carolina Musicians Trail. Scott Nurkin knocked it out of the park again with another spitting image of the musician. If you don't know, the North Carolina Musicians Trail started as a way to recognize the musicians born in North Carolina. Scott Nurkin has been painting these artists in their hometowns, and I've traveled all over the state to see his work and learn about the musicians. Art Wooten never really got the name recognition he deserved, but he was a talented instrumentalist. He was the first fiddler hired by Bill Monroe for the Blue Grass Boys. The group played the Grand Ole Opry. Wooten played the fiddle for the group's well-known song, "Orange Blossom Special." He then went on to play the fiddle for the Stanley Brothers. He was known in Sparta as a one-man band and could play the guitar, organ, and percussion instruments at the same time by creating a special contraption. He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame posthumously to mark his status as a musical pioneer. Much like the Del Reeves artwork nearby, this mural stands as a proud, beautiful reminder of the deep roots country and bluegrass music have in Alleghany County. Finding these hidden artistic gems tucked away in downtown Sparta makes the whole road trip worthwhile. If you are ever exploring the Blue Ridge, make sure to seek this one out--just remember to look all the way around the back!

The Del Reeves Mural is located in downtown Sparta, NC. It is in an alleyway, so it was slightly…read morechallenging to get good photos of it. Painted on the side of the Smithy's Building, this is the 7th mural featured on the North Carolina Musician Trail by artist Scott Nurkin, who has been painting music legends in their hometowns all across the state. North Carolina has truly produced some talented individuals. Del Reeves was born in Sparta, NC and was known for his country vocals and as the "Doodle-Oo-Doo-Doo Kid" for the sound effects he added to tracks. "Girl on the Billboard" was one of his biggest hits and stayed number 1 on the country charts for two weeks. He added some lighthearted humor to some songs like "The Belles of Southern Bell" and "Women Do Funny Things to Me." The working class connected to his music with "Looking at the World Through a Windshield." In 1966, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Later on, he went to the corporate side of music and is known for signing Billy Ray Cyrus. The Del Reeves mural is a beautiful, hidden tribute to a true North Carolina legend. Despite being tucked away in a tight alleyway, the artwork stands as a proud reminder of Sparta's deep musical roots. It is a must-see stop for any music fan or traveler exploring our state's historical trail.

Trio sculpture is a smaller bronze sculpture that sits in the downtown portion of mount airy aka…read moreMayberry in North Carolina. My buddy and I was exploring the historic Main Street area checking out all the Mayberry sites when we came across this piece of public art. Overall Mayberry has a surprisingly vast public art scene and it added to the fun in exploring this historic little town.

The cannon is a fun movie prop public art piece located in historic downtown mount airy North…read moreCarolina aka Mayberry that pays homage to a famed Andy Griffith episode of the same name. The cannon is a fun photo ops for die hard fans and brings back fun memories. It is located next to all The other cool Mayberry props like the jail house, Wally's and darlins farm. Overall a fun and unique site that you can only experience in mount airy.

Here is the cannon. My buddy and I visited Mayberry over the summer. We had a great time and it was…read morevery fun to see all the sights and scenes from the beloved TV show. This is a great addition to the tour and the town. I would recommend checking it out as it has many fun tidbits from Andy and Barney. Goober says hey! Hey to Goober.

Forever Mayberry is a downtown mount airy North Carolina mural that sits outside of famed hometown…read morehero Andy Griffith museum. Paying homage to his famed fictional town of Mayberry from His self titled hit tv show. The mural is smaller and features a mountain and colorful sky backdrop. Pretty simple yet effective mural. Overall mount airy is a fun little Town with a surprisingly high amount of cool public art murals.