Marathon Keys, Florida Wyland Whaling Wall 26

History of the Marathon Keys, Florida Wyland Whaling Wall 26

-Sperm Whales and Florida Keys Reef

Whaling wall 26

Mandy Rodriguez, Director of the Dolphin Research Center and a longtime friend of Wyland’s, secured two wall locations in the Florida Keys for Wyland murals. The largest wall in the area was on the K-Mart building facing the A1A Highway. “I wanted to showcase the variety of sea life found in the Florida Keys, and this wall was ideal for that purpose,” Wyland said. “Having spent years diving in the area, I was anxious to paint the reefs in the area. The reefs back in the early 1990s were being destroyed by misuse and over-development, and I wanted to bring attention to the situation. I hoped in some small way the mural would be a reminder to all who view it that we needed to save our living reefs.”

Did you know

• By 1990, a significant number of Florida’s coral reefs—approximately 90%—were considered to
  be suffering from problems associated with water pollution, boating, and overtourism.
• Sperm whales, such as those depicted in the Marathon Mural, were listed as highly vulnerable at
  the time the Marathon mural was created.

Marathon Keys, Florida
150 Feet Long x 20 Feet High
Dedicated October 30, 1990
By Marathon Keys Mayor

OUR news

Latest from Blog

Check out our latest and newest blogs for detailed articles on Wyland’s achievements, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, and giveaways. Shop Wyland, and all proceeds from your purchases directly support our efforts to bring people together for clean water and healthy oceans.