Oscar Howe's Mobridge Murals
Oscar Howe's Mobridge Murals
Painted by famous Native American artist Oscar Howe in 1942, with the help of a two-week furlough from the federal government, the ten life-sized murals that grace the walls of the Mobridge Auditorium never fail to inspire visitors. The Auditorium is on the National Register of Historic Places as a WPA project from 1939.Free tours are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., via the Mobridge Area Chamber of Commerce in the on-site Visitor's Center and by appointment on the weekends.
For more information about the history of Scherr-Howe and to take an audio tour of the murals please visit the Oscar Howe Mural Tour Website.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
About the Artist
Born May 13th, 1915, Oscar Howe grew up among his Yanktonai Dakota Sioux people and spoke the Dakota language fluently. His tribe, the Crow Creek Sioux, are originally from present day Shakopee, Minnesota. While not part of the Minnesota Uprising, they were forcibly relocated to South Dakota in the event’s aftermath.
Beginning at a young age, Howe drew creatively from memories of his youth and from the oral history of his family. As his artwork matured, a distinct Dakota theme emerged, highlighting the beauty of his ancestors and their Native culture.
The ten Mobridge murals are some of his earliest works. Made possible by WPA funding and done under the direction of his mentor, Andre Boratko, in the midst of World War II (1941-1942), these murals depict Dakota life at contact and interactions with settlers. Howe, a member of the U.S. military himself, was given a 12-day furlough to complete the murals before being sent into active duty. Upon his return, his career as an artist flourished. He is now one of the most popular and well-known Native American artists in U.S. History.
