Ahead of a momentous vote in July 2020 by the U.S. House of Representatives in support of DC statehood, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned #MuralsDC51, a project to create statehood themed murals across all wards in the nation’s capital.
The murals were all created by local artists, bringing home to idea that Washington, D.C. is home to more than just the federal government. There are artists, teachers, healthcare workers, scientists and people from every walk of life living in the District.
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History of the 51 Murals DC Project?
On Juneteenth (June 19, 2020), MuralsDC was tasked by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to put up 51 works of art. The deadline was tight….just seven days to create all 51!
The Mayor wanted the murals completed by June 26, the day the U.S. House of Representatives would vote on DC statehood for the first time in decades.
Renown D.C. street artists and graffiti artists César Maxit, Jay Hudson, Ryan Allen, Lisa Marie Thalhammer, Jah-One and Robert Young worked like crazy to complete the murals in 13 outdoor locations across the District.
The 8 photographs and 43 murals, accompanied by the hashtag #MuralsDC51, promote DC statehood and themes that celebrate love, racial harmony, social justice, human rights and the history of the District through street art.
Are there DC Mural Tours?
At the moment, there are no walking tours, only virtual tours available of these 51 artworks via MuralsDC.com. Click here to take a look at the murals virtually.
Where are the DC Murals located?
- 201 Bryant St NW
- 620 T St NW (Howard Theatre alley wall)
- 2810 Pennsylvania Ave NW
- 1351 Wisconsin Ave NW (alley)
- 2309 Wisconsin Ave NW
- 4608 14th St NW (alley)
- 1310 Childress St NE (Trinidad Recreation Center)
- 1725 15th St NE ( DPW-guard’s station)
- 1333 H St NE (Atlas Performing Arts Center alley)
- 640 10th St NE (Sherwood Recreation Center)
- 801 Virginia Ave SE (DPW)
- 1350 49th St NE (Deanwood Recreation Center)
- 2700 South Capitol St SE (DPW: Mon-Sat 8am-2pm)
Explore the 51 Murals DC by Neighborhood
If you want to see ALL of Washington, D.C., go on a hunt for the 51 murals across all of the District’s wards. Some are a bit tricky to find, hidden down alleyways and behind buildings, so keep your eyes peeled.
We love to pick a spot to eat near one of the mural locations and then wander around the neighborhood to see the artwork with our kids. Give it a try, whether you are a visitor or a DC local. I bet you will see more than the murals you came for.
You won’t be disappointed by what you find when you explore the walls across D.C.
Bloomingdale
- 201 Bryant Street NW (DPW Street Sweeping)
Bryant St. is home to two murals from the collaborative team of Sivad Rogers and Cedric Morris. The first is the word “STATEHOOD” and the second the number “51”.
Both are painted using red, white and blue with geometric shapes within them.
Shaw
- Address: 620 T Street NW (The Howard Theatre)
The Howard Theatre is home to an exhibit of eight photographs by Robert Young. They range from DC memorials like the Lincoln and MLK to people representative of the different cultures living in DC.
Georgetown
- Address: 2810 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Lisa Marie Thalhammer holds the sole mural at ENO Wine Bar in Georgetown. It’s a picture of the District of Columbia map, in her signature bright, rainbow colors, with a “51” in the middle.
- 1351 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
This Compass Coffee side wall is home to four murals. Jah-One’s “Rep Your Statehood” shows a man spray painting the words on a wall.
Lisa Marie Thalhammer veered from her rainbow colors and painted a “51” in shades of blue with 51 stars popping out of fireworks.
César Maxit shareds a pretty in pink “Vote” sign and Ryan Allen painted a giant “51” in gray and white bricks.
Sixteenth Street Heights
- Address: 4608 14th St NW
Five murals can be found at this location. The first is Jah-One’s black and white “You Complete Me” with two arms (one white, one black) shaking hands.
Jay Hudson follows with a DC51 themed cake.
The third is a graffiti like “51” by César Maxit.
And two Lisa Marie Thalhammer pieces complete the wall.
One is a painting of DC Representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton and the other is “Free DC” depicting a person’s muscular arm.
Glover Park
- Address: 2309 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Jah-One has two murals near Observatory Circle. “We Need Statehood” has a red bullseye and “REP Us All” is a black and white painting of protesters asking for representation.
César Maxit’s“Pro DC Statehood and Proud” is the American flag with rainbow stars.
“Protect Our Black Women” by Ryan Allen depicts an African American woman with an afro.
Trinidad
- Address: 1310 Childress Street NE (Trinidad Recreation Center)
There are four murals from four different artists at the Trinidad Recreation Center. The first is by Lisa Marie Thalhammer, making the peace sign with a rainbow ribbon wrapped around it.
The second is by artist Jay Hudson and shows a barbecue with a fork spearing a piece of meat in the shape of D.C., with the number “51” cut out of it.
The third is a bird painted by Ryan Allen.
Finally, a blue dove on a yellow background with the words “Voting Rights Are Human Rights” painted by César Maxit. The Human Rights logo is a human hand and a bird in flight. If you count the blue digits (5) and then the yellow digit (1) you get DC’s state number (51).
DC Public Works
- Address: 1525 15th Street NE (DPW Parking Enforcement)
Here you’ll find one small César Maxit painting with a red, yellow and orange flame with “DC 51” in white stenciled on it.
H Street NE
- Address: 1333 H Street NE (The Atlas Performing Arts Center)
Eight of the murals are located at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
On the side of the building, you’ll find a colab mural by César Maxit and artist, Jah One.
The mural depicts a Black man with dreadlocks and hands up, signing “I-L-Y”: I love you. His orange t-shirt has the phrase Douglass Commonwealth, the name Mayor Bowser has proposed for the new state of D.C. The man’s face mask reads “You are loved.”
Jay Hudson painted three of the eight murals at Atlas. One has a fist with two hockey sticks, a “Go Caps” puck and Black Lives Matter word bubble.
The second is “DC Puffs Cereal.”
The third is fruit with a cocktail shaker and bottle of alcohol.
Jah One painted a black and white mural of a man on a motorcycle based on a photo by Conrado Muluc.
Lisa Thalhammer has an awesome rainbow 51 mural, keeping with her signature bright colors and street art style.
Ryan Allen painted a boulder with weights a la Lady Justice.
Capitol Hill
- Address: 640 10th Street NE (Sherwood Recreation Center)
The Sherwood Recreation Center is home to six of the murals. Jah One painted two. One has the words “We Need Statehood” seemingly jumping out of a wall and the other being the American Beauty rose.
César Maxit painted a blue “51” on a red wall while Ryan Allen opted for a soccer goal with the words “State Hood” replacing the “S”with a “5” and part of the “H” with a “1”.
Jay Hudson painted a heart with wings, a halo and bandaid.
And Lisa Thalhammer comes back with her signature rainbow colors and the DC flag saying “Freedom” and “Justice.”
- Address: 801 Virginia Avenue SE
Three murals are down near Navy Yard. Jay Hudson has his famous, “Statehood “ mural with a paper with those words trapped in a glass bottle that has been tossed in the ocean.
Jah One painted a blue and orange mural with the words “Community Everything.”
The last mural is Ryan Allen’s chugging train with the phrase “Get On Board with Statehood!”
Deanwood
- Address: 1350 49th St NE (Deanwood Recreation Center)
Painted by César Maxit, this mural is on a side wall at Deanwood Recreation Center and depicts a purple wall with a green DC flag flying.
Barry Farm
- Address: 2700 South Capitol Street SE (DPW Nuisance & Abatement)
Barry Farm is home to four 51 Murals DC murals. Jah One’s black and white painting is of a woman wearing sunglasses and the number “51” can be seen on each lens.
Ryan Allen depicts a man standing backward shackled in chains.
Jay Hudson’s “Enjoy Peace” mural shows a broken soda machine surrounded by coins.
And the last piece is by Lisa Thalhammer with “LOVE” in darker shades of her typical rainbow colors.
