Beall Mosaic Mural
The mural is made of more than 150,000 small squares of Byzantine glass, marble, and granite that were hand-cut in Italy.
Facts
About Beall Mosaic Mural
This 315-square foot mosaic mural depicts the natural resources and industry of Washington State:
- atomic power
- aviation
- logging
- shipyards
- hydroelectric dams
- wildlife
- rivers
- agriculture
History
The mural came to the Helen Sommers building in 2018 from its original placement in the General Administration (GA) Building. Commissioned by the State Capitol Committee in 1956, the piece was completed in 1959 — two years after the GA Building was built.
Challenges
The move presented a logistical challenge as the mural was directly attached to a wall in the GA Building. The mural also had to be moved in one solid piece because it was not built in sections and does not have seams. Windows were removed temporarily from each building to allow the mural to pass out of the old building and into the new building.
Today
The moving of the mural is a monumental feat of historic and artistic preservation, and the piece can now be enjoyed in the Helen Sommers building for years to come. This mural is important to the Capitol Campus and our state by telling the story of Washington's rich natural resources, industry, and culture.
