Marion Sites

Daniel Rhodes painted this egg tempera mural on plaster in 1939 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It was originally installed in the post office and was restored in 2008. Iowa-born artist Daniel Rhodes painted a number of murals for the federal government during the Great Depression. "Communication by Mail," depicting modern railroad technology, was his last Iowa mural commission. It is one of only three true fresco murals in Iowa. From an article in the Marion Times: The former Marion Post Office on 8th Avenue, was built with WPA funds in 1939. A mural, by Fort Dodge resident, Dan Rhodes, was...

The post office was constructed with Treasury Department funding in 1939. Until 2008, it also contained a Treasury Section of Fine Arts mural by Dan Rhodes. From Marion Today: "Marion's former post office is also unique in that it has served two other purposes and its mural removed. The painting remained untouched when the building was adapted to become Marion's City Hall at the time of America's bicentennial. In 2006, however, the facility was perceived as too small for the rapidly growing community, and acquired by Merchants National Bank. City Hall moved two blocks away to 6th Avenue." (https://www.mariontoday.org)