At 140 feet in length, comprised of 6,400 oversized bricks, The Whole Wall Mural is the largest sculpted brick mural in the US. The artists said it is the largest in the world, and by our research, it very likely is. But as we’re from the Midwest, and tend to be a bit humble, before we claim the world, we’ll stick to claiming the U.S. (for now). It is located on the east wall of the Cloud County Museum Annex and Concordia Travel Information Center/Cloud County Tourism office. The incredible piece of public art depicts the history of Cloud County. The Whole Wall mural is a project of the Cloud County Historical society. It is a great roadside attraction, but you simply must come inside and hear how it was created and what each section contains to get a greater appreciation for this amazing “Queen Mother” of murals.

Cloud Ceramics, local brick plant and last remaining brick plant in Kansas, donated 6,400 bricks for the Cloud County Museum Whole Wall Mural. The three-dimensional brick mural covers the exterior wall of the Museum annex located at 6th & U.S. 81 in downtown Concordia. The 140-foot brick mural features the history of Cloud County including the old Cloud Ceramics beehive kilns. In the spring of 2008, the carving was completed by artists Catharine Magel, St. Louis, and Mara Smith, Seattle. Cloud County Community College provided space for the artists to sculpt. Cloud Ceramics not only donated the Dakota clay brick but also transported the brick to the college for sculpting and from the college to the plant where they flash-fired the 6,400 bricks. 

Suggested Donations $5.00

Who was the Artist?

Catharine Magel is the commissioned artist for The Whole Wall Project. She is an internationally known artist working in ceramics, mosaic, and painting. Summers, she spends painting sets at the St.Louis Municipal Opera Amphitheater. Completion of her Whole Wall Mural project marks the installation of the largest single brick mural in the U.S.

Who was the Sculptor?

Mara Smith, lead sculptor, has been considered the pioneer of American Brick Sculpture by the Brick Inst.of America since her first commission on the Anatole Hotel, Dallas,Texas, 1977. Mara is also a founding member of the National Association of Women in Masonry. Her studio is located at the Mutual Material’s Newcastle Brick Mfg. Plant on Seattle’s east side.