This hand-painted mural of celebrating the Ozarks’ musical heritage found a new home recently on the side of Drago Hall at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).

The mural, painted by Michael McClure of Willow Springs, was commissioned by the former West Plains Board of City Pride. It was placed on the side of the Wiles Abstract building at the corner of Washington Avenue and Court Square in 1998.

A storm several years later knocked it down, and city officials decided to keep the artwork in storage until a new location could be found.

MSU-WP Interim Chancellor Dennis Lancaster approached city officials about placing the mural on the front of Drago Hall, and they agreed, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Working with the city, we wanted to bring it back, and we felt it was a good fit for our Creative Discovery Center/Art Classroom at Drago Hall,” Lancaster explained.