New support for Semiquincentennial mural in Wheatland

WHEATLAND (WNE) – Wheatland residents may have noticed painted business windows all over town that boast a bold, patriotic look. This endeavor is just another preview of the semiquincentennial celebration taking place this summer and culminating on July 8th with the national, synchronized reading of the Declaration of Independence. 

The 250th celebration planning and events are taking hold, and committee member Cindy Witt came before the Wheatland Town Council and presented plans for a “paint‑by‑number” mural on the side of Frank Jones’ building. 

“I love this so much because everybody can paint — adults, kids and teenagers,” she said. “The mural will coincide with the car show weekend so residents and visitors can participate and celebrate the 250th anniversary.” 

Witt called the mural a community-based, interactive project that would be a landmark in Wheatland for years to come. 

The paint-by-number format makes painting less intimidating and much more welcoming to painters of all ages and abilities. Participants just choose the paint number and fill in those numbered spaces with the corresponding color. 

Witt hopes there will be between 15-20 painters at a time. 

Witt has spoken with local businesses about in‑kind contributions such as paintbrushes and supplies. The mural design was created using ChatGPT, which also generated a purchasing list detailing the number of colors and paint quantities. 

Witt estimated the total cost between $850 and $1,300 and asked if the city could offer its support. Mayor Brandon Graves and the council committed to donating $1,000 toward the project. 

This story was published on May 20, 2026.