New Orleans, Louisiana Wyland Whaling Wall 69

History of the New Orleans, LI Wyland Whaling Wall 69

-Inner City Whales

Whaling wall 69

The New Orleans Hilton Riverside hotel could be said to be one of the most interesting backdrops for a tribute to the blue whale. Wyland’s depiction of this massive animal is aptly titled, “The Blue Whales.” As Wyland says, “With the Mississippi River as the backdrop, what else would anyone expect?” But Wyland’s message goes deeper than the blues. The Mighty Mississippi is one of the most significant arteries connecting over forty million people to the Gulf of Mexico. If the blue whale was to survive, it was essential that every community understood their role in the pollutants, fertilizers, plastics and more that accumulated on the journey to the ocean. The Blue’s Whales mural was dedicated in May 1997 by musician Luther Kent, former Governor of Louisiana, Buddy Romer, the G.M. of New Orleans Hilton Riverside Hotel, Paul Buckley, and the director of the Aquarium of the Americas, Ron Forman.

In 1997, New Orleans faced a variety of increasingly challenging environmental issues, including drastic pollution in the Mississippi. Through this mural, the connection between human actions upstream and their marine effects downstream is readily apparent. The Mississippi flows directly into the Gulf of Mexico, a home to a significant number of biodiverse marine animals, including blue whales. While awareness about pollution is growing, the Gulf of Mexico continues
to experience seasonal phenomena known as “dead zone” that occur from the accumulation of excessive nutrients from fertilizers in the gulf.

Did You Know?

The fourth largest river in the world, The Mississippi River, contributes 41% of the U.S. drainage basin and is crucial in maintaining global ecosystems. Blue whales are filter feeders and consume as much as 4 tons of krill per day, contributing to their massive size at nearly 200 tons and 100 feet long.

A few years later, in 2006, The Wyland Foundation hosted a second event in the region, inviting students in the area to paint smaller murals with Wyland in an effort to draw attention to the message that what we do upstream directly affects the health of our oceans downstream. These murals contributed to the beauty of New Orleans and continues to remind people to pay attention to their own environmental actions.

New Orleans Hilton Riverside
2 Poydras Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
251 Feet Long x 66 Feet High
Dedicated May 3rd, 1997
By Luther Kent (Blood, Sweat, & Tears blues musician),
Buddy Romer (Former Governor of Louisiana),
Paul Buckley (G.M., New Orleans Hilton Riverside) &
Ron Forman (Director of Aquarium of the America’s)

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