Have you ever spent time in the charming city of Anacortes? Known as the gateway to the San Juan Islands, this little island village can hold its own when it comes to attractions, amenities, and natural beauty. But the most interesting part of downtown Anacortes is definitely a collection of murals — more than 150 of them, in fact — that a beloved local artist left as his legacy.

Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island, which you can easily reach by bridge.
Experience Anacortes / Facebook
The city itself comprises 15.4 square miles and has a population of about 17,000.
With 12 miles of shoreline and 67 miles of public trails, Anacortes is a nature lover's paradise -- but the downtown area and its main street are pretty captivating.
Experience Anacortes / Facebook
Strolling through downtown Anacortes is a delightful experience in any season. It's also full of restaurants and cafes, inviting shops, and galleries.
But what really stands out are the murals that line many of the building walls and seem to tell a story.
Experience Anacortes / Facebook
This is all the work of the late Bill Mitchell, an artist, historian, and fierce defender of Anacortes and its oddities.

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When Bill Mitchell was a child, he got into a car accident that paralyzed him from the waist down. And he never let it stop him.
Steve Walser / Flickr
Instead, he made it his life’s work to fill Anacortes with life-sized murals of famous figures within the town.
The Anacortes Mural Project kicked off over 30 years ago, and at the time of Bill's death in 2019, there were more than 150 of them in the downtown area alone.
Experience Anacortes / Facebook
The murals feature Anacortes residents of all different backgrounds and professions.
Curious? You can always take yourself on a self-guided mural tour.
Experience Anacortes / Facebook
Just pick up a mural map at the Anacortes Visitors Center at Commercial Avenue and 9th Street.
For a small island city, Anacortes certainly seems to have a lot going on.
Experience Anacortes / Facebook
The next time you go, pay your respects to Bill Mitchell and see how many murals you can find.

Have you ever heard of the Anacortes Mural Project?

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Anacortes, WA 98221, USA