“For I heard Them Say ‘Let Us Go to Dothan’” (Genesis 37:17)….. So I Did!

by: Janet Kynard, It Happens in Alabama

Having the opportunity to spend several days in Dothan while on a business trip, I decided to take my free time and learn more about this town that I have passed through, on the way to the beach, for the better part of my life.

Dothan, Alabama was originally named Poplar Head. Since there was already a town in Alabama named Poplar Springs, the postal authorities assigned the name “Dothan” to the community to prevent misdirected mail. Early Maps and documents showed two spellings for the town: Dothan or Dothen. When the town was incorporated in 1885, the spelling was chosen to coincide with the Bible.

Dothan has long been known as the “Peanut Capital of the World.” Now it is also known as ”Alabama’s Mural City”. Having heard a little about the Murals of the Wiregrass, I decided to check them out and am glad I did. With the completion of the newest Mural, Wildlife of the Wiregrass, there are now 23 murals on the walls of businesses across the city.

The exterior walls of many of the most historic building, in downtown, are professionally painted with beautiful scenes. The scenes depict the rich history and noteworthy citizens of the Wiregrass Area. While driving down St. Andrews Street, my head was on a swivel trying not to miss any of the beautiful murals on both sides of the street and down alleyways. I finally had to park and walk. This is really the best way to see and appreciate them. To one side of each mural, there was a sign that explained its significance.

The next mural will be located across from the G W Carver Interpretative Museum on N. Foster Street, according to Murals of the Wiregrass. The mural that is already in the works and is slated to be reviled during this year’s Peanut Festival the first of November, 2016.

This new mural will be dedicated in honor not only a legend but someone most people in the Wiregrass either knew personally or at least heard about. It is common for each of us to have a person we call our hero or we consider to be a legend. “Dancin” Dave Whatley was a hero for the entire community. Dave could be seen walking local highways or showing up at festivals, parades and events, for decades. He was always dressed in a white sailor suit and for a little change or a smile, Dave would dance for passersby. As one niece said, at his funeral, “All he wanted to do was dance and make people happy. He lit up a lot of lives.” I am really looking for to this one being completed.

A free map of the locations of the Murals of the Wiregrass can be picked up at the Dothan Visitor Center, 3311 Ross Clark Circle, and at the Wiregrass Museum of Art, 126 Museum Avenue. The murals are a top tourist attraction that will both educate you and show you great scenes from this city’s history. There are plenty of shops and places to eat along the route, so relax, enjoy and take your time.

I Hope you'll sit back and enjoy some of the Murals of the Wiregrass:

Cotton and Railroad Eras

Dream

Logging Era

Salute to the Peanut Indusrty

Steamboat Era

Tribute to Sherman Rose and the Tuskegee Airmen

Wiregrass Contemporary Music

Wiregrass Country Music

Women of the Wiregrass

You won't want to miss the Mural City Artwalk. It is an arts festival that transforms Dothan’s downtown area into an arts district, featuring the work of more than 50 visual artists, live musicians, food and drink vendors, and children’s activities. It takes place each year in March. When snapping and sharing your pictures to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, be sure to add #VisitDothan. The Dothan Area Convention & Visitors Bureau loves to see how you are enjoying their city.

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