When the Orpheum Theater was acquired by the City in 2002, the murals had seen decades of neglect. As renovation and restoration projects took place at the Orpheum, the murals were identified as a key component to the theater’s setting and so the Midwest Art Conservation Center, based in Minneapolis, was brought on to start work on the Orpheum Theater murals.

“We are very excited to have these murals back in the building safe, sound and restored. They will add greatly to the recent renovations in bringing this historic facility back to its early years. Now we have to find funding to complete the rest of the paintings,” said Russ DeCurtins, General Manager for SMG.

The cost for restoring the first two murals was around $40,000. Two of the remaining murals, similar in size to the restored paintings but in better condition, will cost a considerable amount less to restore. However, the largest mural that still hangs above the Orpheum stage needs to be retouched as well.

“This is just another example of the wonderful transformation that’s taken place at the Orpheum Theater Center,” Mayor Dave Munson said. “I think visitors to this great theater will be truly impressed by how it has been restored.”