Pretty As a Picture: How Tyler Keeps Life Colorful
New murals, established venues, historic sites keep life colorful in Tyler, TX.
Magnificent murals are filling large blank walls with explosions of color and creativity in Tyler – but are only part of the kaleidoscope of art and culture flourishing here.
The red brick roads in downtown lead to Liberty Hall, a restored 1930 art deco style building where audiences can take in comedy, classic films and live music, from roadhouse country to classical piano. A highlight of the performance calendar is the Jazz Spectacular offered by the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. Nearby is the Gallery Main Street, where a variety of fine art exhibits are on display.
For those who appreciate history, there are the charming Goodman-LeGrand House, a Civil War-era home and lush grounds, full of antiques and photographs and the McClendon House, once the home of Sarah McClendon, a well-known female journalist in the 20th century.
A large selection of museums calls this East Texas city home, including the Discovery Science Place, a child’s science museum celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019; Historic Aviation Memorial Museum, with a fascinating collection of retired aircraft outside on the tarmac; the Tyler Museum of Art; and the Smith County Historical Society Museum, where the past is preserved in a former Andrew Carnegie public library.
Beginning string musicians can find enrichment and training in the East Texas Youth Orchestra, and the Tyler Junior College Academy of Dance offers classes from ballet to tap for children and adults.
Just as the bright wildflower mural on South College Street proclaims, there are many reasons the arts in Tyler help people “Be Happy!”
Surefire Selfie Spots
Explore Tyler for these top Instagram-worthy spots:
Caldwell Zoo: Lions and cheetahs and giraffes, oh my! For a small fee, you can feed the giraffes (weather permitting) and snap a shot of you and yours at the 85-acre zoo.
The Children’s Park: This is one of the most photographed places in the city. The playful, larger-than life granite teddy bears, which sit near the rock waterfall, are a favorite place to capture a memory.
Tyler Rose Garden: America’s largest municipal rose garden has more than 38,000 rose bushes blooming in a rainbow of colors across 14 acres. Visitors love to pose in front of the 8-foot, gold-painted, sphere-shaped, steel sundial.
Cotton Belt Depot Museum: History has pulled into the station. Built in 1905, the restored train station’s brick exterior has fascinating architectural elements, including the round iron “Cotton Belt Route†sign built into the fence that provides amazing backgrounds.
Beauty and the Box: Public art at the crossroads. More than 21 formerly drab traffic utility boxes have been transformed into vibrant pieces of art with original designs made into vinyl wrappers.
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