Peace River Panorama

About the mural

Mural Artist Richard Currier began the Society’s fourth mural on May 22, 1996 on the side of the Sallie Jones Elementary School. The original mural showed a tranquil Peace River setting surrounded by flora and fauna indigenous to our area, along with 2 ½’ x 2 ½’ squares featuring birds, turtles, fish, manatee, shark, beetles, wild hog, bobcat, squirrel, wild turkey, panther, rabbit, butterfly, raccoon, crab, deer, and an alligator to name a few. Then school Principal Gayle Dean spearheaded the project and said “This mural encourages an appreciation of the beauty of our Peace River and Charlotte Harbor and encourages the protection of its inhabitants.”

Parents, alumni, various community organizations, and local businesses contributed $150.00 each to fund the mural. Funds also came from the Charlotte County Arts and Humanities Council and the Charlotte County School Board.

The mural was dedicated July 17, 1996 with several hundred officials and students in attendance. In 2002, a new school was built adjacent to the old school. The original mural could not be saved, but it was recreated into two consolidated panels on the new school building’s entrance walls by the same artist and rededicated on February 27, 2003.