New downtown artwork traces Latrobe’s history from Native Americans to Arnold Palmer

A new mural in downtown Latrobe puts key players in the city’s history side by side.

Unveiled Tuesday morning, the artwork is featured on the back of the city’s new welcome sign located where Main and Depot streets diverge from Lloyd Avenue.

Important historical figures are displayed in chronological order from left to right. The timeline begins with Native Americans who were the original inhabitants of the region and concludes with pro-golfer Arnold Palmer, who died in 2016.

Other smiling faces on the timeline include Latrobe founder Oliver Barnes, Latrobe steel workers, Latrobe Brewing Co. workers, Latrobe Area Hospital nurses, banana split creator David Strickler and children’s television host Fred Rogers.

Shrubbery, pathways and seating accompany the sign to create a spot that residents and tourists alike can enjoy.

Steve Patricia – a local artist who has done work for clients such as the U.S. National Park Service and National Geographic Society – designed the piece. The first drafts for the project were completed at the end of 2021.

Though many of the people on the timeline lived decades or centuries apart, Patricia pointed out that each of them likely spent time in the artwork’s exact location.

“Every one of those individuals, if they are real or represent somebody, either passed by this spot or occupied this spot,” Patricia said. “That’s kind of cool.”

Patricia aimed to avoid the dull nature of timelines by focusing on the people and minimizing text. He also hoped to feature women in the piece as prominently as possible.

“I did the best I could to include women who were significant or at least part of the support,” he said.

The Latrobe Area Historical Society helped ensure the artwork’s historical accuracy.

Jarod Trunzo, executive director of the Latrobe Community Revitalization Program, hopes the piece can serve as an educational tool for locals and tourists.

“We think it’s a really good representation to open our minds of how (Latrobe) was,” Trunzo said. “Historic preservation is really important to the fabric of our town.”

The $70,000 project only cost $6,500 thanks to donations and a grant from the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, Trunzo said.

Additionally, the creation of the piece was possible with help from Blue Sky Sign Company, Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center students, Saint Vincent College students, Loyalhanna Environmental Services, Latrobe Public Works, and Ligonier Stone & Lime Concrete.

Patricia said the piece is only part of a “larger interpretative plan” for Latrobe. Trunzo shares this vision for the city.

“This isn’t the end,” Trunzo said. “We’re just getting warmed up.”