History and culture - Western Slope
Downtown Delta is a city of murals you can walk for free
Since the mid-1980s Delta has painted more than 20 large murals on downtown walls, turning a few blocks of Main Street into a free, self-guided walking tour of Western Slope history.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
Most towns hang their history in a museum. Delta painted it on the walls.
It started with a practical decision. When Delta received urban renewal funds in the mid-1980s, a public art committee set some of the money aside to put murals on downtown buildings. One wall led to another, and over the years the count grew. The City of Delta now describes more than 20 large murals across the downtown area, which is how the town earned the nickname “City of Murals.”
The subjects stay close to home: ranching and orchards, the rivers, the Ute people, and scenes from life on the Western Slope. Several are big enough to cover most of a building’s side, and a few play with depth to look almost real, though it is worth seeing them in person before deciding how convincing they are.
The nice part is that the whole thing is free and easy. Most of the murals sit within a few walkable blocks of Main Street, so you can wander at your own pace. The city offers a mural virtual tour app to help you find them, and you can fill out the afternoon nearby at the 1928 Egyptian Theatre or at Confluence Park along the river.
The City of Delta keeps the current mural list and its tour app on its official culture page.