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In Ripley, Mississippi, you don’t have to walk into a museum to learn the town’s history… you just have to walk down the street.
Over the past several years, this little downtown district has been given a glow-up thanks to local artists, students, and a few digital designers who turned the brick walls of downtown Ripley into an open-air archive. Today, there are more than 20 murals around town that nod to the town’s agricultural roots, its musical legacy, its literary ties, even its Chickasaw history.
Can you find them all? Here’s your itinerary.
Greetings from Ripley by Khyla Shumpert
100 N Main St
A 24-year-old from Booneville, Mississippi, transformed Ripley’s square with a postcard-style greeting in 2024. The piece was commissioned by Ripley Main Street Association as part of their ongoing beautification efforts of Historic Downtown Ripley.
Welcome to Historic Ripley by Ripley High School Art Students
100 N Main St
Art here is as local as it gets – a group of talented Ripley High School students banded together to beautify Main Street with an iconic “welcome” mural.
A Tale of Two Fa(u)lkners by Anna Frances Ballard
108 S Commerce St
This mural celebrates Ripley’s connection to two remarkable members of the Fa(u)lkner family. Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner spent part of his early childhood in Ripley, while his great-grandfather, Col. William Clark Falkner, lived there for much of his life and became one of Tippah County’s most influential historical figures. The mural features a young William with the words, “When I grow up, I want to be a writer like my Great Granddaddy,” reflecting the literary legacy passed from one generation to the next. Commissioned by Ripley Main Street through a grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.
Dancing Shoes Mural by Annie Simpson Rivers
101 W Walnut Street
This whimsical mural on Walnut Street features folks dancing surrounded by colorful shapes.
Hill Country Blues Alley by Sam Ryan Ingram (Kenny Brown mural by Annie Simpson Rivers)
140 W Walnut Street
Blues Alley pays tribute to 10 of the most significant names in Hill Country Blues, including Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, and R.L. Burnside. The multitude of murals in the alley are painted by Sam Ryan Ingram, with the Kenny Brown piece by Annie Simpson Rivers. Commissioned by Ripley Main Street through a grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.
Mural Wall: Stripes, Disco, and Inspiring Florals by Annie Simpson Rivers
141 W Walnut Street
The painting party continues just beside Blues Alley with a collection of art from Annie Simpson Rivers lining the wall along West Walnut Street: colorful stripes, a disco piece, and a floral installation.
Ripley Main Street by Holly Thurmond Pataki
116 S Main St
Pretty enough for a postcard, this welcome sign by Holly Thurmond Pataki is in beautiful shades of blue inspired by the spirit of downtown Ripley. Created as part of Holly’s Girl Scout Gold Award, the project reflects her commitment to community service while adding another colorful landmark to Main Street.
Nice to See You by Annie Simpson Rivers
298 S Main St
Nothing like a warm welcome to usher you into a small town! Rivers’ massive mural on Main Street states, “It’s just so nice to see you all, welcome back!” and “Shop local, all the cool kids are doing it!”
The Chickasaw Murals and Floral Mural by Annie Simpson Rivers
204 S Commerce St
Ripley Main Street debuted the Cut Off in fall 2025, offering a neat destination for locals and visitors to grab a taco, listen to some music, shop a little, and take a load off. The destination is surrounded by murals: a collection of Chickasaw prints and a floral wall were completed by Annie Simpson Rivers. Commissioned by Ripley Main Street through a grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.
The Ripley Mural, digitally created by Carolyn Perkins
204 S Commerce St
Visible from the highway and from multiple vantage points throughout downtown, this bold mural has become one of Ripley’s most recognizable landmarks. Digitally designed by Carolyn Perkins, the vibrant RIPLEY mural overlooks The Cut Off and serves as a welcoming gateway to downtown as well as a favorite backdrop for photos and community events. Perkins also created a Native American graphic mural on the retaining wall at the Cut Off. Commissioned by Ripley Main Street through a grant from the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.
Library Mural by Bella Steiert
308 N Commerce St
Our local library got a little love when artist Bella Steiert created this mural during an internship with Ripley Main Street. It features a stack of books, including works by William Faulkner, his great-grandfather Col. William Clark Falkner, and a book highlighting the history of Tippah County—celebrating Ripley’s rich literary and local heritage.
The African American Quilt Murals
Scattered throughout town rather than confined to one wall, these quilt-pattern murals were painted by Brenda Storey (two of them) and Ripley High School Art students. Keep an eye out as you wander; part of the fun is stumbling onto one you didn’t know was there!
Coming Soon
Annie Simpson Rivers has another mural in the works at Brown & Covington, so this map will keep on growing.
Find more Southern travel inspiration here.
| This article is presented in partnership with Visit Ripley.
