List of Whaling Walls
This is a list of Whaling Walls , which are large outdoor murals by the American artist Robert Wyland (b. 1956), featuring images of life-size gray whales , breaching humpback whales , blue whales , and other sea life. Whaling Walls (a pun on the Wailing Wall ) are created by invitation of the communities, institutions, and building owners of the structures on which they are painted. His first mural was created in 1981, and Wyland's 100th Whaling Wall was painted in Beijing in 2008.[ 1]
WW index[ 2]
Name
Location
Dedicated
Comments
01
Gray Whale and Calf
509 Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, California
July 9, 1981
Painted over in 1996; painted ceramic tile mural made in 1996; wall-mounted painted mural-on-canvas in 2019[ 3] [ 4]
02
Young Gray Whale
Ocean Institute, San Clemente, California
March 20, 1982
Relocated to Concordia Elementary School, San Clemente.
03
Spyhopping
Marineland of the Pacific , Rancho Palos Verdes, California
June 27, 1984
EXTINCT[ 5]
04
The Gray Whale Family
15248 Russell Avenue, White Rock, British Columbia , Canada
September 26, 1984
Recently restored; will remain as a façade following demolition of the original building.
05
The Orcas of Puget Sound
Edgewater Hotel
2411 Alaskan Way
Seattle, Washington
November 10, 1985
Original was painted over in 1995, repainted in same location in 2019[ 6]
06
Hawaiian Humpbacks
repainted at 3049 Ualena Street, Honolulu, Hawaii
April 21, 1985
Original wall is EXTINCT.[ 5] A recreation was done at the Pacific Airport Center opposite WW85
07
California Gray Whales
Del Mar, California
July 6, 1985
EXTINCT[ 5]
08
Orcas
1170 Melville Street, Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
September 10, 1985
Mostly covered by new constructions. Whales no longer visible
09
First Voyage
Polynesian Cultural Center Oahu, Hawaii
February 4, 1986
EXTINCT,[ 5] torn down during Gateway kitchen renovations
10
Manatees
Orlando International Airport Orlando, Florida
1986
Terminal A. Prior to security gates.
11
First Born
Renaissance Orlando Resort 6677 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida
September 26, 1986
Moved from SeaWorld . In hotel lobby.
12
Laguna Coast
2171 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California
February 2, 1987
Tiled 1996.
13
A-5 Pod
1250 Wharf Street, Victoria, British Columbia , Canada
June 20, 1987
Decaying and faded, but still alive for now. As of June 2020, there are plans by the new owners of the building to turn it into a boutique hotel, so the future of the mural may be in jeopardy.
14
Sperm Whales
Funabashi, Japan
October 14, 1987
15
Dolphins of Makapuu Point
Sealife Park, Oahu, Hawaii
1988
16
Orcas off Point Loma
Belmont Park Plunge pool
San Diego, California
June 29, 1989
EXTINCT;[ 5] removed during renovation in 2017[ 7]
17
Bottlenose Dolphins
Stored in Osaka, Japan
August 27, 1989
done for a 24-hour televised telethon in Tokyo , Japan
18
Sperm Whales of the Mediterranean
Nice, France
October 1989
19
Forbidden Reef
San Diego, California
July 9, 1990
EXTINCT[ 5]
20
Gray Whale Migration
San Diego, California
July 9, 1990
EXTINCT[ 5]
21
Washington Orcas
928 A Street,
Tacoma, Washington
July 1990
22
Orca Heaven
Yamagata , Japan
1990
A ceiling mural.
23
Bundaberg Humpback Family
Bundaberg, Australia
September 28, 1990
24
Humpback and Calf
Sydney, Australia
September 28, 1990
25
Humpbacks
Lamphere High School, Madison Heights, Michigan
October 8, 1990
26
Sperm Whales & Florida Keys Reef
Marathon, Florida
October 30, 1990
EXTINCT[ 5] repainted as Whaling Wall 87
27
Minke Whales
5550 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, Florida
October 30, 1990
In the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center
28
A Time for Conservation
4-831 Kuhio Highway, Kapaa, Kauai , Hawaii
January 8, 1991
29
Humpbacks off the Pali Coast
4-831 Kuhio Highway, Kapaa, Kauai , Hawaii
January 8, 1991
30
Maui Humpback Breaching
Lahaina, Hawaii
January 21, 1991
EXTINCT[ 5]
31
Gray Whale Migration
Redondo Beach, California
June 24, 1991
32
Whales
Taiji , Japan
August 1991
33
Planet Ocean
Long Beach Arena , Long Beach, California
July 9, 1992
Was the largest mural in the world at that time[ 8]
34
Ocean Biosphere
Oracle, Arizona
April 18, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5]
35
Orcas of the Oregon Coast
Portland, Oregon
May 9, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5]
36
Whales off the Coast of Maine
Portland, Maine
June 7, 1993
37
Isle of Shoals Humpbacks
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
June 14, 1993
Wall demolished, September 20, 2021. Robert Bendetson of Cabot House Furniture refuses to allow restoration.[ 9]
38
Stellwagen Bank
33 Traveler Street, Boston, Massachusetts
June 21, 1993
EXTINCT;[ 5] Painted over in 1999 with a killer whale scene by Ron Deziel.
39
Finback Whales
Providence, Rhode Island
June 28, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5]
40
Inner City Whales
Port Authority Bus Terminal 41 Street Underpass, New York City
July 5, 1993
41
The Great Sperm Whales
Eugene O'Neill Dr. & State Street, New London, Connecticut
July 12, 1993
Repainted 2006 by David Bishop of Mystic, CT,(WCRC)and any damage repaired each year by Whaling City Restoration Committee. #41 is complete as originally painted in 1993. Photos at www.whalingcityrestoration.com.
42
East Coast Humpbacks
2400 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 19, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5] Torn down for renovations to Aramark Headquarters building.[ 10]
43
Humpbacks off the Jersey Coast
3800 Boardwalk Mall Wildwood, New Jersey
July 26, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5]
44
Delaware Marine Mammals
117 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware
August 2, 1993
45
Dolphins-Small Tooth Whales
3000 Connecticut Ave. N.W, Washington, D.C.
August 9, 1993
EXTINCT [ 5] , removed in 2023 and replaced by a new Wyland mural focusing on corals and fishes of Lanai.[ 11]
46
Extinct Atlantic Gray Whales
600 W. Hamburg St., Baltimore, Maryland
August 16, 1993
Repainted in 2014 by Shawn James and Charles Lawrance of Mural Masters, Inc. of Baltimore, MD.
47
Humpbacks off the Virginia Coast
999 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Virginia
August 23, 1993
48
Coastal Dolphins
Wilmington, North Carolina
August 30, 1993
49
Right Whales off the South Carolina Coast
2101 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
September 6, 1993
50
Atlanta's Right Whales
90 Central Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia
September 16, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5] Paint removed pursuant to building renovation[ 12]
51
Florida's Dolphins
Mote Marine Lab
1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida
September 20, 1993
EXTINCT[ 5]
52
Florida's Living Reef
Waterfront Brewery,
201 William Street, Key West, Florida
September 27, 1993
53
Orcas off the Gulf of Mexico
South Padre Island, Texas
March 14, 1994
Repainted by Andell prior to 2024. One wall retains original subject while second wall now has dolphins instead of whales
54
Alaska's Marine Life
406 W. 5th Ave., Anchorage, Alaska
August 8, 1994
55
Orcas A-30 Subpod
Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
August 15, 1994
EXTINCT;[ 5] Completely painted over on June 20, 2017. Reports of the aquarium designer didn't like it and thought it didn't fit in the new west coast theme.[citation needed ]
56
Vancouver Island Orcas
1390 Granville, Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
August 15, 1994
Restored for the Vancouver Olympics. EXTINCT[ 5] after building demolition in 2015[ 13]
57
Leap of Faith
Seattle, Washington
August 22, 1994
EXTINCT[ 5] in 2011
58
Orcas off the San Juan Islands
Seattle, Washington
August 22, 1994
EXTINCT[ 5] in 2011
59
Gray Whales off Oregon Coast
Newport, Oregon
August 29, 1994
60
Spyhopping Gray Whale
San Francisco, California
September 5, 1994
Across from Pier 39
61
Grays off the San Francisco Coast
San Francisco, California
September 5, 1994
Between Pier 39 and Aquarium
62
Celebrating Gray Whales
Hollywood, California
September 12, 1994
EXTINCT[ 5]
63
Life Size Blue Whales
Hollywood, California
September 12, 1994
64
San Diego Migration
San Diego, California
September 19, 1994
Visible only from an adjacent apartment building, on their pool deck.
65
Friendly Grays of San Ignacio
Mexico City , Mexico
September 26, 1994
EXTINCT[ 5]
66
Free Keiko
Mexico City , Mexico
September 26, 1994
EXTINCT[ 5] part of an agreement to free Keiko (Free Willy )
67
Earth Day Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
April 22, 1995
68
Pacific Realm
Laguna Beach, California
November 6, 1996
Ceiling
69
The Blues Whales
New Orleans, Louisiana
May 3, 1997
70
Heavenly Waters
Redpath Sugar Refinery , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
September 1, 1997
The mural is located on the north wall of the sugar shed. It is viewable from Queens Quay .
71
Our Ocean Family
Apple Valley, Minnesota
September 8, 1997
72
Whale Commuters
Milwaukee County Courthouse Annex , over northbound lanes of I-43 , Milwaukee, Wisconsin
September 15, 1997
Mural demolished May 3, 2006 during removal of Courthouse Annex and Marquette Interchange reconstruction; small portions of mural with adult & baby dolphin and "Wyland" signature installed at northern portal of the Kilbourn Tunnel at I-43 Northbound in February 2007
73
The Windy Whales
Chicago, Illinois
September 22, 1997
New construction has covered all but a sliver of wall. Signature still visible but not much else.
74
Orcas Passage
Indianapolis, Indiana
September 29, 1997
75
Song of the Whales
Cleveland, Ohio
October 6, 1997.
Restoration completed and wall rededicated October 4, 2019[ 14]
76
Whale Tower
Broderick Tower , Detroit, Michigan
October 13, 1997
Still intact. Was covered by lighted advertising during the 2006 World Series and infrequently afterward, but was eventually re-exposed to public view. The mural will not be maintained by the newly renovated Broderick Tower apartments and will fade naturally.[ 15]
77
Eye of the Whale
Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park, Toronto , Ontario , Canada
October 21, 1997
EXTINCT[ 5]
78
Florida's Marine Life
Macy's Department Store, 22 East Flagler St., Miami, Florida
May 4, 1998
On SE 1st Street side of building
79
Santa Monica's Marine Life
Santa Monica, California
August 25, 1998
EXTINCT[ 5] as of Jan-2012
80
World of Ocean Life
2275 S 300 W Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
September 7, 1998
81
Atlantic Humpback Whales
The Aquarium of Niagara , Niagara Falls, New York
September 29, 1998
82
Ocean Life
505 N. Akard Street, Dallas, Texas
April 16, 1999
83
Race to Save the Ocean
San Diego, California
June 12, 1999
Two sides of the racing hull painted on the yacht Abracadabra competed in the 2000 America's Cup Race in Hawaii. Abracadabra currently at Maritime Museum of San Diego.
84
New Zealand Marine Life
New Zealand National Maritime Museum, Auckland , New Zealand
October 15, 1999
EXTINCT[ 5] [ 16]
85
New Millennium
Pacifica Airport Center, 3049 Ualena Street, Honolulu, Hawaii
December 15, 1999
Re-creation of Whaling Wall 6
86
Manatee Sanctuary
4150 South Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa Springs, Florida
October 23, 2000
Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park Visitor Center building
87
Florida's Radiant Reef
5551 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, Florida
March 9, 2001
Painted over WW 26. Restored by Wyland in 2022 [ 17]
88
Marine Life of the Gulf
690 Regatta Bay Drive, Destin, Florida
October 17, 2001
Touched up in 2015
89
Humpback Realm
NAVY Exchange, 4725 Bougainville Drive, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
December 2002
90
Palau's Blue Corner
International Airport, Palau
February 2003
Companion mural at the Etpison Museum
91
Guam's Ocean Life
Guam International Airport, Hagatna, Guam
February 19, 2004
92
Baja Tranquility
La Paz, Baja California Sur , Mexico
August 8, 2005
93
Great Whales of New Bedford
West Terminal, Maritime Terminal Inc., MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, Massachusetts
October 20, 2005
94
Ride the Tide
Del Mar, California
June 24, 2006
95
Keys to the Seas
Scuba-Fun, 99222 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, Florida
February 12, 2007
96
Riches of the Ocean
Pago Pago, American Samoa
April 12, 2008
97
Sea of Life
Plymouth, Devon
May 10, 2008
National Marine Aquarium
98
Celebrating the Reef
Santos, Brazil
May 17, 2008
Santos Municipal Aquarium
99
Water for Life
North Lauderdale, Florida
June 14, 2008
McNab Road
100
Hands Across the Oceans
Beijing, China
June 14, 2008
2008 Beijing (Green) Olympics; Panels presented in Washington DC, September 30, 2008; in storage
References
^ "Wyland to Paint 100th Whaling Wall Mural in Beijing" . NBC New York . July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2020 .
^ "Whaling Walls" . Wyland Foundation. Retrieved 2010-02-12 .
^ "The Whaling Wall" (1996, 2019) by Wyland" . Public Art in Public Places . August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020 .
^ Jarrell, Allison (2019-07-20). "Wyland Resurrects Original Whaling Wall in Laguna" . Laguna Beach Local News . Retrieved 2019-08-01 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab EXTINCT indicates that the mural is no longer accessible. It may have been covered, destroyed, or significantly altered.
^ "Orcas swim again on Seattle's Edgewater Hotel, thanks to artist Wyland" . The Seattle Times . 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2019-08-01 .
^ "Plunge pool to reopen at Belmont Park" . KGTV . 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2019-08-01 .
^ "Where's Wyland? Iconic, massive marine artwork is easy to spot along Southern California coast" . Orange County Register . 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2019-08-01 .
^ Choate, David "Whaling Wall endangered " Sept 14 2010, Seacoast Online
^ "End of an era approaches as 'Whaling Wall' mural makes way for Aramark HQ" . Philly Voice. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-15 .
^ https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/attractions/wyland-mural
^ Stafford, Leon (1 October 2010). "Downtown Atlanta 'whale wall' to sleep with the fishes" . ajc.com . Retrieved 26 November 2011 .
^ "It's DESTROY VANCOUVER!! time: Whale mural demolished" . Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly . 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2019-08-01 .
^ "Re-dedication ceremony for Cleveland's popular 'whale wall' " . October 2019.
^ "Detroit Whales' Fate: To Fade Away" . HuffPost . 23 July 2012.
^ "Wailing wall" . The Aucklander. 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2018-10-23 .
^ "In Pictures: Wyland Restores Landmark Mural in Marathon" . 16 March 2022.
Wyland Wall #51 Extinct in 2022
External links