Upon arrival at Missoula Montana Airport, Destination Missoula has the honor of extending the first welcome with its brand new visitor Welcome Wall. After two years of planning, the wall is a celebration of Missoula’s unparalleled outdoor access and our vibrant arts and culture scene. Complete with unique commissions from local artists the Welcome Wall includes interactive iPads to help assist you in making the most of your trip to Montana and a phone that provides a direct line to Destination Missoula’s call center for immediate answers to your biggest questions.
The 44-foot long installation wall is nearly 11 feet tall. It features 15 large scale Missoula images and five locally-inspired art pieces that represent what Missoula loves most—accessible outdoor recreation and a vibrant arts and culture scene.
This beautifully decorated surfboard pays homage to Missoula’s unique surfing culture at Brennan’s Wave and represents the four seasons, including seasonal flora and fauna. Sitting at 9 feet tall, the original piece was first sketched on Courtney’s iPad, with individual pieces that were hand drawn and put together to make the final artwork, which was then vinyl wrapped to the surfboard.
Filled with tiny nuances that capture Missoula’s natural beauty, you’ll find something new each time you look at it. You can find Courtney’s art all over town from her mural “Garden City of Earthly Delights” on the side of Grizzly Liquor to some of her pieces being solid at Missoula Markers downtown.
Inspired by Montana’s state fish found in the three rivers that meet in Missoula, Paul created a 3-D cutthroat trout out of steel. He started this process with a detailed, sketched outline of the fish.
Next, he began forging a skeleton of the cutthroat trout out of steel, and wrapped it with copper sheeting. He then used heat to give the final work its natural patina.
Chosen to showcase Montana’s state flower, this Bitterroot sculpture represents the bloom’s proclivity in Missoula Valley. The Bitterroot flower has long been an important food source and holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous peoples, who traditionally harvested its roots each spring. Today, its delicate pink blooms serve as a reminder of the deep connections between people, culture and the land. Be sure to check out Paul’s website for more of his beautiful work.
This mixed media guitar serves as a physical representation of Missoula’s vibrant music scene, while Monica’s artwork tells a much deeper story of place and history.
Charcoal, epoxy resin and 22k gold leaf portray two buffalo and birds facing each other, depicting Mt. Sentinel and Mt. Jumbo atop a map of public lands by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The piece pays homage to the history of Native American Tribes who lived, visited and passed through the Hellgate Canyon to get to Missoula. You can see more of Monica’s work around town, notably her power box on the corner of Van Buren and Broadway.
Honoring the historic carousel that is the centerpiece of Missoula’s downtown, A Carousel for Missoula volunteers hand carved and painted a carousel horse and donated the piece for the installation.
Adorning the steed’s shoulder is Mt. Sentinel, with the iconic M Trail, and A Carousel for Missoula is on its hindquarters. The horse is a spotted gray with a black mane and tail, and gold accents. Each of A Carousel for Missoula’s horses has a name, and this horse was no different! The Missoula community was asked to submit names for the horse, and the Destination Missoula team chose the winning name, “Zoola Sky.”
This addition to Missoula’s already growing airport introduces visitors to local stories while showcasing community identity and highlighting regional artists and culture. The wall was created to provide a welcoming arrival experience and educate visitors while also fostering community pride. Whether you’re arriving in Missoula for the first time, or are returning home for the thousandth, Destination Missoula is proud to welcome you
Whether you’re arriving in Missoula for the first time, or are returning home for the thousandth, Destination Missoula is proud to welcome you.
