Murals Tour

Follow Your Art: A Tour of Murals and Public Art in the Heart of North Carolina

Murals can turn a blank wall into a conversation, or a side street into a destination. You may not know it, but Randolph County has one of the most impressive collections of public murals and art installations in the Piedmont. This multi-day itinerary is your guide to finding all of it, with great coffee and local food (and maybe a bit of shopping) along the way.

Linbrook Heritage Estate grain bin murals
Linbrook Heritage Estate grain bin murals

Day 1: Asheboro and Seagrove

Public art is a signature of Asheboro’s ongoing downtown revitalization. You’ll need plenty of fuel for walking to see the 6 murals scattered throughout the retail district. We recommend starting the day with a hearty breakfast at David’s Restaurant in downtown Asheboro (try their stuffed French Toast!) before you embark on the tour:

Downtown Train

Artist: Asheboro native Susan Harrell
Medium: Mural
Location: Sunset Avenue

Downtown Asheboro Train Mural
Downtown Asheboro Train Mural

Healing is Possible

Artist: Britt Flood
Medium: Mural
Location: Sunset Avenue

Healing is Possible Mural in Downtown Asheboro
Healing is Possible Mural in Downtown Asheboro

Randolph Memories

Artists: Dwight Holland, Cynvia Aurther, Audrey Beck, Louise Culler
Refurbished by: Susan Harrell
Medium: Mural
Location: Fayetteville Street

Randolph Memories mural in Downtown Asheboro
Randolph Memories mural in Downtown Asheboro

Drink Coca-Cola

Artist: Franklinville native, Louis Brady
Medium: Mural, Advertisement
Location: South Church Street

Drink Coca-Cola Mural in Downtown Asheboro
Drink Coca-Cola Mural in Downtown Asheboro

Randolph Memories

Artists: Dwight Holland, Cynvia Aurther, Audrey Beck, Louise Culler
Refurbished by: Susan Harrell
Medium: Mural
Location: Fayetteville Street

Randolph Memories mural in Downtown Asheboro
Randolph Memories mural in Downtown Asheboro

Drink Coca-Cola

Artist: Franklinville native, Louis Brady
Medium: Mural, Advertisement
Location: South Church Street

Drink Coca-Cola Mural in Downtown Asheboro
Drink Coca-Cola Mural in Downtown Asheboro

While you’re in the neighborhood, step inside for a bit of shopping at Morings Original Craft Store, Collector’s Antique Mall, and Antiques & Geeks Collectibles. Then stop in for lunch at Chives: Southern-Soul-Creole (shrimp & grits, anyone?) before visiting the next two art installations in Asheboro:

Tribute to Russ Murphy

Artists: Leon Rucker, Marcus Lowery
Medium: Mural
Location: Eastside Park

Tribute to Russ Murphy
Tribute to Russ Murphy mural at Eastside Park in Asheboro

Serendipity Garden

Artists: Randolph Quilters Guild
Medium: Textile, Mixed Media Quilting
Location: Cone Health MedCenter Asheboro


For more from the Randolph Quilters Guild, check out our brochure on the Randolph County Quilt Trail, a self-guided tour of barn quilts throughout the heart of North Carolina.

Serendipity Garden Quilt
Serendipity Garden Quilt

For the afternoon, take a short drive south to Seagrove, where art is part of the natural landscape. A few stops to include on your public art tour:

See y’all in Seagrove

Artist: Aylissa Hall
Medium: Mural
Location: Historic Luck’s Cannery

See y'all in Seagrove Mural
See y'all in Seagrove Mural

Potter Landscape Scene

Artist: Lauren Freeman
Medium: Mural
Location: Historic Luck’s Cannery

Seagrove Potter's landscape mural
Seagrove Potter's landscape mural

Sculpture Garden

Artists: Various
Medium: Bronze sculpture
Location: Carolina Foundry


The Carolina Bronze Sculpture Garden & Foundry is home to more than 27 bronze sculptures set throughout beautifully landscaped grounds. Admission to the Sculpture Garden is free; Foundry tours are available for $5 for those who want to see how the work is made.

Carolina Bronze Sclupture Garden
Carolina Bronze Sclupture Garden

Before you wrap the day, take time to browse at Seagrove Pottery, and head across the street for a drink and live music at The General Wine & Brew.

Day 2: Randleman, Franklinville, and Ramseur

Head to Randleman and start with a homemade southern breakfast at Randleman Café. Your first stop on today’s public art tour of Randolph County is at Commerce Square Park in downtown Randleman. Don’t forget to snap some pics at these local art installations:

Deep River State Trail

Artist: Susan Harrell
Medium: Mural
Location: Commerce Square Park

Deep River State Trail mural in Randleman
Deep River State Trail mural in Randleman

Delicious and Refreshing, Drink Coca-Cola

Medium: Mural, Advertisement
Location: Corner of North Main Street and East Academy Street

Ride over to Franklinville for lunch at local hot spot, Franklinville Diner, for a meat-and-two daily special (and do not forget to order their famous grilled vanilla pound cake). While you’re there, you won’t be able to miss Randolph County’s newest mural, commissioned to celebrate America’s 250th birthday:

History of Franklinville

Artist: Bobby Guff
Medium: Mural
Location: West Main Street

America 250 mural in Franklinville
America 250 mural in Franklinville Photo Credit: Larry Penkava / Randolph Hub

Before moving on to the next art installation, take a walk along the Deep River State Trail to visit the real Faith Rock, site of a legendary Revolutionary War event. (TIP: Check out our America 250 page for even more on Randolph County’s Revolutionary history.)

The last stop on today’s public art expedition: Ramseur. Head into downtown to see the third Coca-Cola mural on our tour:

Have a Coke

Medium: Mural, Advertisement
Location: Main Street

Coca-Cola Ramseur Mural
Coca-Cola Ramseur Mural

Stop in for a vintage browse at Magnolia’s on Main and Josie B’s Riverside Mercantile, and end the day with a hand-pattied burger, fries, and handmade milkshake at Shortstop’s Burgers and Shakes.

Day 3: Archdale and Trinity 

Start your morning with coffee and a pastry at The Chat & Chew in Archdale. As you drive through the city, check these public art displays off your list:

Traffic Box Art

Artists: K-12 students from Archdale and Trinity schools
Medium: Various, vinyl installation


The Traffic Box Art installation was led by Archdale’s Community Appearance Commission, and features artwork on 14 boxes along Main Street and Archdale Road. For more like this, you might also want to visit Liberty and check out installations in their Paint-A-Hydrant program.

Traffic Box painting in Archdale
Traffic Box painting in Archdale

Be Brave, Be Kind, Be Creative, Be YOU

Artist: Karla Pacheco
Medium: Mural
Location: Creekside Park, next to the playground


The 40-foot geometric mural was a community collaboration with Archdale Parks & Recreation, incorporating vibrant colors and inspirational messages.

Creekside Park Mural
Creekside Park Mural

From Archdale, it’s a short drive into Trinity, where two more murals await:
 

Neal Agricultural & Industrial Museum

Artist: Christoph Johnson
Medium: Mural
Location: Snyder Country Road

Linbrook Heritage Estate grain bin murals
Linbrook Heritage Estate grain bin murals

History of Trinity College

Artist: Jeremy Sams
Medium: Mural
Location: Highway 62, at the site of Braxton Craven School and the original home of Trinity College

mural at braxton craven school in trinity north carolina
Mural at braxton craven school in trinity

While you’re in town, visit Spade and Broom, a locally owned vintage and home décor boutique set in a renovated 1900 home, and worth a look for anyone drawn to artisan goods and beautifully designed spaces. And finally, cap your Randolph County public art and murals tour with a hearty lunch at Pioneer Family Restaurant in Archdale.