ROY PURCELL'S MURALS

Roy Purcell, acclaimed artist, started “The Journey” (fondly called “The Chloride Murals”) in 1966 on a 2,000 foot rock formation in the Cerbat Mountains. The location had been a favorite picnic spot in the 1940s and, way before that, an important place for the Chloride Band of Hualapai, who created petroglyphs in the area. After painting the murals and leaving Chloride, Purcell went on to become director of several museums.

In 2005, assisted by his family, Purcell repainted, and added new images, to his creation, using automobile paint. Purcell wrote several books detailing the images and their meanings which can be purchased at Yesterdays Restaurant. 

 

Purcell's work can be found in private collections around the world, and in corporate art collections including those of Standard Oil and Dow Chemical. Purcell also has a gallery in Tubac, Arizona.

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The road to the murals changes depending on rainfall and when it was last graded.  As of October 2018, you can easily drive the 1.3 miles with a passenger car. Head east on Tennessee Avenue, go across the cattle guard, and follow the signs, appropriately painted on rocks themselves.