Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Beneath downtown Minneapolis, Schieks Cave has surprisingly warm groundwater, evidence of a subterranean heat island.
Schieks Cave Below Minneapolis Contains a Lake of Warm Sewage
about 16 hours ago
Athenaeus described various kinds of Greek drinking vessels, like the deep, rounded skyphos and wide, flat kylix.
The Ancient Greek Guide to Succeeding at Dinner Parties
1 day ago
No thanks.
AO Mailbag: Which Places Just Aren’t Worth Visiting?
3 days ago
Benshi would introduce and provide commentary for films like A Page of Madness.
Remembering the Heyday of Japan’s Silent Film Narrators
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Maryland Annapolis 'The Walking Man'
AO Edited

'The Walking Man'

A touching tribute to a local hero who made sure his neighborhood stayed clean.

Annapolis, Maryland

Added By
Thomas Harper
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
‘The Walking Man’   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Walking Man’   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Walking Man’   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Walking Man’   thomasharper / Atlas Obscura User
‘The Walking Man’   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Known in his neighborhood of Annapolis as "The Walking Man," Carlester Smith helped keep West Street clean by picking up trash on his daily walks for many years and greeted all passersby. Annapolis artists painted a mural on the wall of Pinky's West Street Liquors in his honor before he passed away in March of 2021.

For decades, Smith could be seen speedwalking along West Street in Annapolis, Maryland, earning some spending money by cleaning up trash and washing windows. He had many nicknames like "Buckwheat" and "Bag Man" but was mostly known as The Walking Man. For decades, he walked and cleaned West Street until severe arthritis stopped him, leaving him homebound. 

After a viral fundraiser for his home care, the beloved Walking Man would soon have another tribute from his neighbors.

Annapolis artist Comacell Brown, Jr. led a team to create a mural on the wall of Pinky's West Street Liquors, where Smith would get sodas from any money he earned cleaning on his walks. This mural is a tribute to a local legend who gave his time and energy to his neighborhood.

Related Tags

Memorials Art Murals

Community Contributors

Added By

thomasharper

Edited By

blimpcaptain

  • blimpcaptain

Published

July 15, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
'The Walking Man'
1100 West St
Annapolis, Maryland, 21401
United States
38.977168, -76.511285
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Hall of Presidents Before Washington

Annapolis, Maryland

miles away

Banneker-Douglass Museum

Annapolis, Maryland

miles away

Equal Justice Mural

Annapolis, Maryland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Annapolis

Annapolis

Maryland

Places 14

Nearby Places

The Hall of Presidents Before Washington

Annapolis, Maryland

miles away

Banneker-Douglass Museum

Annapolis, Maryland

miles away

Equal Justice Mural

Annapolis, Maryland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Annapolis

Annapolis

Maryland

Places 14

Related Stories and Lists

12 Murals Dedicated to Local Heroes

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Tangier, Morocco

    Leila Alaoui Mural

    Local authorities nearly destroyed this mural before a viral video rallied international support to save it.

  • The oratory interior.

    Dublin, Ireland

    Oratory of the Sacred Heart

    A nun spent 16 years painting the stunning Celtic mural that covers the interior of this WWI memorial.

  • San Bartolo Coyotepec, Mexico

    ‘El Mural de la Conquista’ (‘Mural of the Conquest’)

    In this state repository of folk art, perhaps no piece is more representative than this brutal work featuring the town’s distinctive black clay pottery.

  • Phoenix, Arizona

    David Bowie Mural

    This mural of the late David Bowie features eight colorful panels showcasing Bowie’s various alter egos.

  • May you rest in peace.

    Birmingham, England

    'A Life in the Year of the Chinchillas'

    The ceiling of this shopping arcade is adorned with six trompe-l’œil artworks, including a grim funeral scene.

  • ‘Dollar a Gallon III,’ Virgil Abloh (2019)

    Miami, Florida

    'Dollar a Gallon III'

    This sculpture in the Miami Design District is one of the few public works of Virgil Abloh, an internationally recognized fashion designer and creative.

  • Jeanne Dielman Mural

    Brussels, Belgium

    Jeanne Dielman Mural

    A mural recalls a fictional woman who once lived at 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Brussels.

  • Keith Haring’s ‘Crack is Wack’ mural

    New York, New York

    'Crack is Wack'

    In 1986, Keith Haring was arrested for painting this anti-drug mural on a Harlem handball court.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.