History, Commerce, Community: A Short Retrospective on Germantown

At a pivotal moment of development in Germantown, a historic neighborhood and thriving cultural community, local residents have collaborated on a new mural that speaks to Germantown’s past, present, and future. A recent vote to choose the artist for this project attracted 400 participants, who selected Jared Bader as the muralist. Exemplifying Mural Arts Philadelphia’s community process, this project is spearheaded by a volunteer committee of Germantown leaders and stakeholders, coming together to steer democratic decision-making and build joint ownership of public space in this geographically diverse neighborhood.

The mural was dedicated in August, 2017. The final artwork includes a depiction of Germantown native and Harlem Globetrotter Frank Washington, who was previously represented in a mural at this location—the new mural honors the history of this neighborhood and its heroes, while looking forward to the possibilities of a bold future.