Towering above the waves of the Maumee River, large grain silos marked with bright visions of the region’s first farmers were celebrated Saturday as the Glass City River Wall mural was christened with rhythms, dance, and prayers.

“This city will never be the same,” Christina Kasper, the project manager of the Glass City River Wall mural, remarked through tears.

Nearly 3,000 gallons of paint were used to create the largest mural in the United States, with three portraits over 100 feet tall and a length equal to three football fields.

The heart of the project centered around honoring, “...the first farmers of this area, so obviously, that's the American Indians who were here first, right,” said Jeremy Turner, a member of the Shawnee tribe.

Mr. Turner’s son, Orontondi Greyhat, 9, was the model for the child portrait on the mural.

“I really want folks to understand that our communities are still alive and well today,” Mr. Turner said before turning over the microphone to his son, who said he felt, “happy and happy,” about the completed mural.

Los Angeles-based artist Gabe Gault designed the mural and was in Toledo Saturday to celebrate its completion.

“It's been a long time coming. We spent two years doing this,” Mr. Gault said.

The design tells the story of the Native American tribes who lived along the banks as early as the 1600s before European settlers arrived.

To recognize those who were considered the first farmers of the region, a mother, child, and grandmother were painted on the three largest silos.

The remaining 25 structures were painted with an agricultural-inspired design that includes sunflowers — something Mr. Gault frequently uses in his work to represent good fortune, faith, and adoration — and sunchokes, which were harvested by some of the tribes and still grow wild in the area.

Mr. Gault, along with many other individuals, struggled to get through the undertaking of such an ambitious project and said there were many moments when he and others thought of giving up when faced with the challenges of constructing the mural.

“We all collaborated and made changes,” said Eric Henn, the lead muralist on the project.

“I've been doing murals for 35 years, and to have that title [the largest mural in the United States] that is really big,” he said.

In addition to Orontondi, fellow mural model Mary Louise Defender Wilson, who recently turned 92, attended Saturday’s ceremony.

Gerald Ironshield, an elder of the Dakota tribe, opened up the blessing of the mural with a native song in traditional garb.

“We were the first inhabitants in this area,” Mr. Ironshield said, adding that there was a reason everyone was brought to Ohio.

“Do your best to learn where you came from and try your best to help one another create a place together,” Mr. Ironshielf admonished the audience as he blessed the new mural.

The project is the brainchild of Nicole LeBoutillier and Brandy Alexander-Wimberly, two friends and local residents who spotted the silos while they were recreationally boating on the river in July 2019 and deemed it the perfect canvas.

The Glass City River Wall, located on the river side of the Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. grain elevator along Miami Street, is expected to be seen by more than 82,000 drivers who cross the DiSalle Bridge.

First Published October 15, 2022, 11:31 p.m.