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New Mural Celebrates Orleans 200th Birthday

Last updated on Tuesday, May 19, 2015

(ORLEANS) - The new mural designed by Dr. Leah Morgan celebrates the small town’s founding 200 years ago in 1815 and is being installed on the north side of the Orleans Antiques store building.

The on-going mural project is sponsored by the Orleans Chamber of Commerce and provided in part by a grant from Orange County Convention & Visitor Bureau.

The mural is being installed by HD Graphix of Orleans and is the local Chamber's "Birthday Gift" to Orleans during this Bicentennial Celebration year. This is the fifth in the planned series of murals displayed throughout various buildings in Orleans.

Since little Orleans is named for the Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson will be pictured on the mural on the side of the Orleans Antiques store.

Many of the town's streets in Orleans are named after United States Presidents including Jackson Street.

Before Jackson was President, he was a General during the War of 1812 against the British. He won fame during the "Battle of New Orleans". It was that battle after which Orleans was named.

After visiting New Orleans a few years ago and viewing the bronze Statue of General Jackson on horseback leading his troops, I thought art featuring his statue would be appropriate for Orleans.

That statue depicted is in front of the Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans and that was the inspiration for this mural. There are actually four General Jackson Equestrian Statues. The original sculpture was created in 1853 by sculptor, Clark Mills for the White House lawn. Mills replicated the statue for New Orleans and one for Nashville, Tennessee, where Jackson lived at his home the Heritage. Mills made a replica for in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. In 1987, a fourth statue was created for Jacksonville, Florida.

Students from the Orleans High School Advanced Art Classes designed and created historical painted figures to go along with the mural and be displayed on the wall along with the mural.

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