Officials cut ribbon on African American mural in Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, Md. — In celebrating 150 years, Ocean City is honoring key figures. A new African American mural was unveiled outside the Henry Hotel.

Clara Smalls, a historian at Salisbury University, said the project will help preserve history.

“What’s so important is that it lasted. When other places did not, it endured,” she said.

The mural honors and recalls the essential role of African Americans in the resort’s beginnings. According to Smalls, the hotel was a vital place for the African American community.

“They could perform at other hotels, they could perform at other venues, but they could not live at those venues,” she said.

Local and state officials gathered to cut the ribbon and unveil the mural. Lisa Challenger, executive director of the Beach to Bay Heritage Area, was a strong proponent of creating the space.

She said the location is convenient and highly visible.

“It really faces all the traffic heading north on Baltimore Avenue. Really visible,” Challenger said.

Artist Jay Coleman, who created the mural, said he was honored to be selected and had to get creative to make it happen.

“We used a polytab, which is like parachute cloth. We painted most of it in the studio, then applied it to the wall, and then painted it onto the wall,” he said.

Beach to Bay officials hope community members and visitors scan the QR code on-site for more information.