Salt Lake's OG Whale

Salt Lake's OG Whale is located at the RC Willey furniture store, 2301 S 300 West, South Salt Lake City.

Artist and conservationist Robert Wyland painted this mural of a blue whale mother and calf in 1998 during his 50-states-in-50-days Ocean Challenge tour, which taught landlocked communities that ocean health is directly tied to inland pollution.

Collaboration among Wyland, RC Willey, and the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium resulted in Utah hosting one of Wyland's 100 "Whaling Walls," a global project he painted between 1981 and 2008.

The RC Willey mural is titled "World of Ocean Life" and measures 100x60 ft.

Originally, the mural included a lower portion that was painted by local kids and showcased dolphins, orcas, squid, and starfish.

The founders of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium invited Wyland to Salt Lake as part of their efforts to fundraise and build community support for the aquarium. At the time, the aquarium was searching for their first location, which would eventually be at the Gateway in 2004.

The Wyland Foundation donated the cost of the mural and RC Willey's CEO, Bill Child, approved the donation of the wall. Child supported helping the aquarium gain awareness and believed the public art would enhance Utah's hosting of the upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics.

Not all of Wyland's 100 Whaling Wall murals survive today. Wikipedia lists 28 of his murals as being "extinct" meaning covered over, destroyed, significantly altered, or no longer accessible to the public.

You can catch a glimpse of the mural when traveling southbound on I-15 around 2100 S, or up close at the SLC RC Willey store. 🐋