RUSSELL – The history of Russell now sprawls across the huge building way facing Cecil Bricker Park at Main and Eighth streets. Victoria artist Rick Rupp has installed his latest masterpiece, consisting of 60 5x10-foot panels depicting scenes from Russell’s historic past.
The work to attach the panels started May 9 and the project took about a month.
The mural replaces another that adorned the same wall. There is a previous mural, which featured various facets of the region’s oil history, was beyond repair, said Patty Driscoll, one of the Russell residents involved in the project. Before Rupp gets to work, the wall had to be sandblasted.
“This mural is a central part of the downtown area of our city,” Driscoll said. Many citizens and members of organizations have expressed the need to repair or replace the mural.”
Among these concerned citizens were the members of the Russell’s Original Art Review who undertook this significant project to enhance the shopping district. “The beauty of our city is an important component of economic development that is key to the well being of the Russell area,” Driscoll said. 
The committee replaced the old mural Rupp’s work that includes images derived from consultation with the Russell Historical Society and the Kansas Historical Museum in Topeka. These scenes will be used to make a historic collage of Russell dating from 1871 to the present. It will be affixed to the building in the location of the existing mural. The mural will be constructed on mega board and sealed for lasting preservation. 
The committee picked an expert mural artist, Rupp. The project was started in May 2010.
 “It is our hope that this mural will preserve the history of Russell and recognize the legacy of past leaders and will inspire leaders of the future,” Driscoll said.