34th Street Graffiti Wall

34th Street Graffiti Wall kfs386 (Atlas Obscura User)

This retaining wall has been regularly tagged since 1979. Though technically illegal, the wall has become an institution of sorts. City officials even placed trash cans along the wall to discourage littering.

People call the 1,120-foot wall the “Community Bulletin Board.” Artists post all kinds of things from victory announcements and personal victories to activism slogans and tributes. Most of the art is done by students and local residents, but sometimes, a professional contributes to the piece. Local historians believe there are at least 250 layers of paint in some areas.

The wall was once whitewashed, but artists just re-tagged it right away. When engineers drafted a plan for road widening that involved removing part of the wall, officials decided to narrow the median instead so the art installation could remain intact.

There are only two permanent sections: a tribute for hometown hero Tom Petty and a memorial for victims of a serial killer. Other than those two panels, the art changes every week.

Know Before You Go

The wall is along a busy street (34th Street). There is a sidewalk. The best time to view the art is early morning or late evening since there is heavy traffic during other times.