The community is being invited to the Battle Creek Regional History Museum (BCRHM) dedication of the Battle Creek Historical Mural created by Conrad Kaufman, on Saturday, August 15 at 3:00 PM.

The mural was created by Kaufman, in 2008, to decorate the exterior of the Fredrick R. Brydges Port of Entry in the Fort Custer Industrial Park.  The mural was visible to travelers driving on Dickman Road through the industrial park.

“Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) originally commissioned the mural, and we decided on a ‘industrial heritage of Battle Creek’ theme,” stated Kaufman.

The mural remained at the Port of Entry until 2019, when the BCU enlarged and remodeled their building.

BCU generously donated the mural to the history museum and the Battle Creek Community Foundation provided the grant money to transfer the mural to the west side of the museum, near the parking lot.

The colorful acrylic painted mural includes depictions of farms, railroad cars, soldiers at Camp/Fort Custer, steam tractors, the Seventh Day Adventist Tabernacle, the Federal Center, factory workers producing cereal, hot air balloons, airplanes, a truck shipping manufactured goods, and a home with family members.

As part of it’s installation at the museum, Kaufman was asked to create an additional panel featuring early Native Americans and there lives.  That panel will be unveiled as part of the dedication program.

Kaufman was raised in Bangor, Michigan and attended Western Michigan University and created his own business, Fence Row Studio in Galesburg, Michigan.  He has created over 300 murals throughout the Midwest.   In Battle Creek, they include murals on the former Habitat for Humanity store on West Michigan Avenue, the mural wall on the Battle Creek River, next to Willard Library, and a museum wall history display at Bronson Battle Creek.

As part of the dedication program, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi tribe will be included, and will be providing entertainment.

The BCRHM has been developing the museum facility to creatively tell the story of our region’s history.  The mural will be an exterior symbol of the mission of the museum, which is ‘Giving local history a future’.

The museum is located at 307 West Jackson Street, Battle Creek, Michigan 49037.  Please wear a protective mask and practice social distancing.