Nestled beside the crook of Utah’s interstate system, where the Idaho arms of I-15 and I-84 join in Box Elder County, Tremonton is one rural town that is keeping pace with growth in more urban areas. In fact, one can imagine in a decade or two that it will—if even reluctantly—join the urban core of the Wasatch Front, which continues to expand southward and northward. The town of close to 13,000 got a head start on the state’s explosion of public murals—the earliest date to the 1970s—and to this day probably has only South Salt Lake to contend with for the most murals per capita.

The town has Jason Nessen to thank for this distinction. Inspired by a “phantom muralist” who painted landscapes on the sides of buildings in northern Utah in the 1970s (see here), Nessen has transformed his hometown into one of the street mural capitals of the state. He finished his first mural for the city in 2003. Different from the current trend in the state, which is heavy on flora and fauna, with a good dose of signage and placemaking, Nessen focuses on local historical scenes in his murals.. His works capture iconic moments such as the Space Shuttle launch, Olympians with ties to Tremonton, and the famous 1869 photo from the Golden Spike’s completion, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.

Known for his perfectionism, Nessen often spends 30 to 70 hours weekly on his murals. Grant support from various sources has funded these artistic projects, establishing Tremonton as a unique cultural landmark in northern Utah and attracting significant media attention. (See an article on the artist from the Wasatch View here).

Building on the success of their investment in Nessen, Tremonton has recently commissioned other artists to create works in the town center. In 2020, Reno, Nevada artist Erik Burke created a mural to celebrate the 100th birthday of Gail Halvorsen, who was born in nearby Garland. Halvorsen, who died in 2022 at age 101, was known as the “Candy Bomber” for turning a small act of kindness—dropping candy with handmade parachutes to children during the Berlin Airlift—into Operation Little Vittles, a movement that brought joy and hope to a besieged city.

The most recent mural, created by Derek No-Sun Brown in 2023, honors Chief Sagwitch and the Northwestern Shoshone Tribe, who once thrived in northern Utah’s valleys. After surviving the devastating Bear River Massacre of 1863, Sagwitch displayed resilience by leading his people to establish the Washakie community in northern Utah.

Though Tremonton is known for its murals, you’ll also find sculpture in its public art arsenal. Figurative and abstract sculptures decorate both the city center and the nearby Shuman park.

Jason Nessen’s first commissioned work, in 2003, this mural at 41 East Main Street (west facing wall) depicts the Midland Hotel, built in 1914 and destroyed by a fire in 1995.

 

Jason Nessen used a 1950s postcard of the town for the source of the backdrop and current locals, including family members, for his models in this “Welcome” mural at Allred Auto Body, 168 W. Main. Nessen painted an earlier “Welcome” mural at 25 East Main Street in 2014; but being on a second story and obstructed by trees it is barely visible, it doesn’t quite accomplish the job it was intended to.

 

On the garage itself you’ll find some hot rod art ala Ed Roth.

 

Three generations of a local family are depicted in Nessen’s “Jeppesen Family Collage,” 2008. 60 N 100 West (south facing wall).

Jason Nessen, “Driving of the Golden Spike,” 2015, 125 E. Main, Tremonton (south facing wall).

Rocket propulsion systems for the space shuttle were produced in northern Utah. This mural was created by Rachel Wadsworth with funding from Orbital ATK and Tremonton City. 200 East Main (south facing wall).

 

Commissioned in 2014, this mural by Nessen commemorates the first Golden Spike Rodeo, held on September 24, 1925 at the County Fair. 140 W. Main Street (east side of the building).

 

Commissioned in 2015, this mural by Nessen celebrates the Bear River Ladies Softball team, 3a state champs from 2008 to 2012. 600 North 100 West (north facing).

 

Commissioned in 2015, this mural by Nessen depicts Tremonton’s volunteer fire department from the 1920s. 51 South 100 West (south facing wall)

 

Using an historic photograph of the first Golden Spike Rodeo, Nessen painted “The First Grand Entry ” along a wall outside the Box Elder County fairgrounds.

 

The “Candy Bomber” mural was painted by Erik Burke in 2020 at 105 W. Main Street.

 

Derek No-Sun Brown painted this mural honoring the Shoshone tribe in 2023. 110 E. Main St. (south facing wall).

 

The town of Garland is close enough to Tremonton that the towns bleed into each other and are often though of as one. Nessen painted this mural of Garland’s former Sugar Beet factory at 72 N. Main Street, Garland.

 

Midland Square, in the heart of town, is surrounded by Tremonton’s murals and features a veteran’s memorial and this sculpture of children fishing. 75 W. Main Street.

 

Community donations funded this sculpture by local artist Val Lewis of two children seeing the story of Peter Pan come to life. The bronze statue sits on Shuman Park property in front of the Library.

The Golden Spike sculpture, west of the city library, celebrates the 200 N. Tremont Street.

The Shuman Park Bell commemorates John Shuman, an early settler of Tremonton who donated land in 1903 to establish what is now Shuman Park. The bell, which signaled curfews and marked special events until 1936, was replaced by an electric siren.

In Plain Site

With our In Plain Site byline we feature publicly viewable art, both official and street art, throughout the state of Utah.