Smith & Blanchard Feed Store Mural

Rolf Goetzinger, 1997

3100 E Olympic Ave

In 1997, artist Rolf Goetzinger transformed the side of the historic Smith & Blanchard Feed Store in Hillyard into a vivid scene from the early 1900s. His mural depicts life-sized figures in period dress, creating the illusion of townspeople gathered along Market Street — as if the past had stepped out onto the sidewalk.

Goetzinger, known for his murals in Leavenworth and Wenatchee, brought his signature trompe-l’oeil style to Spokane’s northeast neighborhood. With striking realism and a sense of place, the piece aimed to celebrate Hillyard’s historic character while inspiring future public art efforts.

Painted on a once-blank white wall, the mural quickly became a visual landmark — inviting residents and visitors alike to imagine the stories, people, and street life that shaped Hillyard’s identity more than a century ago.

Sources

• The Spokesman-Review, “Artist Paints a New View of Hillyard,” by Jennifer LaRue, November 8, 1997, page B1.