Published on July 30, 2024
HELENA, Mont. – The City of Helena will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 5, to celebrate the new Lyndale Tunnel mural. The event will start at 10:30 a.m. at the northside of the tunnel, which runs beneath W. Lyndale Avenue. The public is invited to attend. Remarks will be given by the artist, Elise Perpignano, Mayor Wilmot Collins, and Chiara Cipriano with the United States Forest Service.
Perpignano was selected to paint the mural in the spring. The mural covers both walls and the north and south side entrances of the tunnel, creating a vibrant connection between the Great Northern Town Center and Centennial Park. The 2400 square foot mural honors the 13 brave men that died fighting the Mann Gulch Fire in 1949. This August marks the 75th Anniversary of this tragedy. The mural ribbon cutting will take place before a commemorative event at the State Capitol Building Monday evening.
More information on the Mann Gulch 75th Anniversary events can be found at https://www.montanadiscoveryfoundation.org/manngulch75/.
The project originated as a proposal from the Helena Public Art Committee. It was approved by the City Commission in the spring.