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SEDONA | HISTORIC RANGER STATION MURAL
UNITING PAST, FUTURE AND COMMUNITY
The project brings new life to the historic Forest Service Ranger Station house (1917) and barn (1934), both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our vibrant mural depicts the Ranger Station Park in a unique blend of black and white and color, with cacti, a ranger on horseback, and artist Lillian Wilhelm Smith at work.
Led by talented artist JAMES HAVENS, the local Sedona community from ages 2 to 85 joined in to create a stunning piece that showcases Sedona's rich history.
Over 100 community members participated in the 5-day pop-up painting event. The mural's theme is a beautiful representation of the ranger station and its surroundings, with a creative twist: gray tones for the historic elements and vibrant colors for the present day surroundings.
This project is a testament to community engagement and the power of art to bring people together.
The USFS Ranger Station residence
The USFS Ranger Station residence is the oldest structure in Sedona. It was built in 1917 by USFS Ranger Jesse Bushell. It is perhaps the earliest example of the USFS 1-D model ranger residence which became standard architecture nationwide.
The USFS Ranger Station Barn
The USFS Ranger Station Barn was built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a New Deal program developed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It put young men ages 17-28 to work on manual labor projects related to nature conservation and development of natural resources on public lands. The CCC had a camp in Sedona roughly where the Arabella Resort sits today.
Both the Residence and Barn were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Artist Lillian Wilhelm Smith
Lillian Wilhelm Smith was an illustrator and easel painter known for her Arizona landscapes and portraits. Born to a prosperous family in New York City, Wilhelm Smith studied at the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League, Columbia University, and the Leonia School of Art in New Jersey.
Sedona’s newest park honors the city’s history, and one of the city’s oldest buildings is its focus. But just beyond the borders of Ranger Station Park on Brewer Road stands a reminder of a lesser-known chapter. The stone house at the park’s southeast corner, in what now is Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, once was part of She-Kay-Ah Ranch and home to Lillian Wilhelm Smith
The USFS Rangers
In the early 1900s, a USFS forest ranger was a custodian of the newly formed National Forests, tasked with protecting them from fire, poaching, and trespass, and managing the public's use of resources. These men often came from diverse backgrounds like cowboys, soldiers, and miners, with few initially having formal forestry education. Their duties involved patrolling on horseback, enforcing rules, issuing permits for grazing and timber, and fighting fires.
Sedona Native American History
The main ancient tribe in the Sedona area was the Sinagua, who lived there from around 650 to 1400 A.D. and left behind cliff dwellings and rock art. Later, the Hopi, Yavapai, and Apache also inhabited or passed through the region, with the Hopi believing the Sinagua to be their ancestors. the mural features a clay bow relic from another time. (Image features pottery shards found a block away at the KSB property.
THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH WAS A HUGE SUCCESS WITH OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS PUTTING BRUSH TO CANVAS - MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME!
THANK-YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!
A very special thank-you to everyone who participated in this event! It was a sincere pleasure to meet you all and share some special creative moments! We will be back soon!
SPECIAL THANKS!
A very special thank-you to Carla Williams & Craig Swanson and the team at Keep Sedona Beautiful. A very special thank you as well to Nancy Lattanz at the Arts & Culture department and the entire City of Sedona! Thank you to the team at the Arizona Community Foundation for their contribution to this project- Cheers!
KEEP SEDONA BEAUTIFUL
SPECIAL THANKS TO KSB "KEEP SEDONA BEAUTIFUL"
A very special thank-you to Carla Willians and everyone at "Keep Sedona Beautiful" for all the dedicated work being done day-in and day-out to conserve and protect Sedona's sacred places!
Keep Sedona Beautiful has been the premier environmental nonprofit in the Sedona area for the last 52 years, bringing longevity, integrity and passion to environmental issues of importance to local residents and businesses, as well as people around the world who have come here to experience and enjoy the area.
Learn more about KSB at www.keepsedonabeautiful.org .
THE CITY OF SEDONA
SPECIAL THANKS TO "THE CITY OF SEDONA"
A very special thank-you to Nancy Lattanz at the Arts & Culture department for the City of Sedona! Thank you hosting this important event!
Learn more about the arts in Sedona by visiting the City of Sedona website:
ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The mission of the Arizona Community Foundation is to lead, serve, and collaborate to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona.
Working together enhances creativity, ingenuity, and impact. We value teamwork and partnerships, both internally and externally, and strive for collective success over individual achievement.