Wider than the Gateway Arch, “Migrate” is a 750 by 60 ft. mural facing the Mississippi River in St. Louis’ Near North Riverside neighborhood. The mural celebrates the Mississippi Flyway bird migratory route and spirit of North America’s greatest waterway. The historic Cotton Belt Freight Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The mural serves as a preservation effort for this one-of-a-kind monument/relic of booming industrial St. Louis in the early 20th century.
In 2011, I was a recent a college grad and had the idea to paint a massive mural on this building, which was owned by two friends. Over the next three years, I volunteered as the project manager fundraising, assisting artists, figuring out logistics and city permits, and making this vision a reality.
I am humbly thankful to:
- Rally St. Louis and Elasticity, which made fundraising possible.
- Explore St. Louis and the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, who were major donors.
- The hundreds of crowdfunding donors who supported this.
- Nita Turnage and Hap Phillips, who designed and painted "Migrate," with support from Sky Jenny, a 80' snorkel boom.
- Tim Tucker and Mark Schulte, who formerly owned the Cotton Belt Freight Depot and supported the project all the way.
- STL Sloup, whose initial support was the launch pad.
I am humbly thankful to:
- Rally St. Louis and Elasticity, which made fundraising possible.
- Explore St. Louis and the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, who were major donors.
- The hundreds of crowdfunding donors who supported this.
- Nita Turnage and Hap Phillips, who designed and painted "Migrate," with support from Sky Jenny, a 80' snorkel boom.
- Tim Tucker and Mark Schulte, who formerly owned the Cotton Belt Freight Depot and supported the project all the way.
- STL Sloup, whose initial support was the launch pad.
This photo was taken on September 22, 2014 when Nancy Fowler from STL Public Radio stopped by Nita and Hap's humble and huge worksite/studio/canvas. Click the link here: "Artists Transform Abandoned Building Into 'Welcome To Missouri' Sign" to hear Nita's great laugh as they describe the work process.
Nita Turnage and Hap Phillips' grit, talent, and teamwork got the art on the wall. We lost Nita in October 2019 to cancer. I hope everyone remembers Nita when they experience the joy that this massive mural brings to the riverfront.
Views of Cotton Belt while Nita, Hap, and Sky Jenny went to work. The mural was completed in about two months (September 10 - November 14) and took over 200 gallons of paint!
The Cotton Belt mural was a Rally St. Louis project made possible via community voting, crowdfunding, and support from civic groups. Learn more about Rally St. Louis: "'Tweet Me in St. Louis' is this Web Site's Goal" - New York Times.
Early on, I leveraged media into fundraising and volunteer recruitment. A few early media stories included:
"St. Louis Welcomes You" - Mizzou Magazine
"Rally St. Louis looks for grassroots ideas that improve the city" - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Local Artists Dream Of Adding Giant Mural To Iconic Ruin" - Riverfront Times
"Rally St. Louis looks for grassroots ideas that improve the city" - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Local Artists Dream Of Adding Giant Mural To Iconic Ruin" - Riverfront Times
Since the completion of the mural, the building has taken a place in the collective curiosity of St. Louis and world of preservationists, artist, and urban explorers. Read more: Atlas Obscura, Architectural Afterlife, Only In Your State, My Downtown STL, and more.
STL SLoup is a monthly soup dinner that crowdfunds grants for grassroots artist and community impact projects in St. Louis.
I pitched in January 2013 and used the small winnings to jump start the fundraising campaign for the Cotton Belt mural.
"This Sloup Dinner Provided Self Help, As Past Winners Reminisced" - St. Louis Public Radio
"Artists Transform Abandoned Building Into 'Welcome To Missouri' Sign" - St. Louis Public Radio
The mural inspires artists.
Commonfield Clay
by Chris Kallmyer
by Chris Kallmyer
The City & The City
by Mariam Ghani
by Mariam Ghani
The mural inspires festival.
"The goal of this festival is to foster the development of new works of art inspired by the St. Louis riverfront landscape and history, stimulate creativity through participatory art projects, provide platforms for artists to share their stories and visions with the community, and to do all of this uninhibited by commerce. This is a free, all-ages event situated at the historic site of the Cotton Belt Freight Depot every October."
"One More Well and Solea Water brings together art, life and music to a passionate crowd in an effort to alleviate water poverty," March 21, 2015 on the St. Louis Riverfront.
Facebook.com/WorldWaterDay2015stl
Facebook.com/WorldWaterDay2015stl
The mural inspires debate.
"New football stadium threatens what remains of St. Louis’ Native American past — and present" March 31, 2015 - St. Louis Public Radio
"North riverfront in downtown St. Louis looking for a makeover" November 5, 2018 - St. Louis Post Dispatch
Why Did Someone Apply To Demolish the Cotton Belt Building February 24, 2022 - Riverfront Times
Why Did Someone Apply To Demolish the Cotton Belt Building February 24, 2022 - Riverfront Times
St. Louis Man Living in Cotton Belt Building Suing Over New State Law January 5, 2023 - Riverfront Times
Why We Stole a Giant Crowbar From the Cotton Belt Building March 9, 2022 -
Riverfront Times
Riverfront Times
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The five-story freight depot was constructed in 1911 to handle freight for the Southwestern Cotton Belt Railroad. It is most notable for it's long narrow shape being 35' wide and more than 750' long. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 (link to PDF). The mural project was partially a preservation effort, to bring attention to the building and historic Near North Riverside neighborhood.
"Migrate" on the Cotton Belt Freight Depot is a part of the city skyline - as confirmed by Google Maps.
Follow Cotton Belt at www.facebook.com/cottonbeltraildepot
Follow Cotton Belt at www.facebook.com/cottonbeltraildepot