Tacoma, Washington Wyland Whaling Wall 21

History of the Tacoma, Washington Wyland Whaling Wall 21

Washington Orcas

During the Goodwill Games in the summer of 1990, Wyland traveled to Washington state for his next mural. “Washington Orcas” was envisioned as part of the artist’s efforts to travel to regions around the world and get attention to critical marine issues. Washington Orcas was no different. Orcas in the area were struggling under diminishing salmon stocks and surging levels of boat traffic around Tacoma, particularly Puget Sound. In the background, Mount Rainier rises majestically on an unusually clear day, while in the foreground, a resident pod of orcas glides through the calm waters. Mount Rainier and the Pacific’s cool waters are home to many resident orca pods.

The story of orcas in Puget Sound was dramatically different in the 1990s than it is today. Toxic water pollution runoff, noise pollution, and declining food stocks had taken a toll on the health of the orca pods in the region, eventually leading to Endangered Species Act protections for the southern resident killer whales a little more than a decade later.

The mural became a regional favorite for millions of people, symbolizing the importance of preserving the area’s natural heritage of clean water and healthy oceans.

Whaling wall 21

Tacoma, Washington
120 Feet Long x 45 Feet High
Dedicated July 1990
By Tacoma Mayor, Karen Vialle

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