Fort Scott Kansas is home to a little known national art treasure. Tucked
away in the decommissioned federal courtroom on the second floor of the post
office is a mural by Oscar E Berninghaus titled “Border Gateways.”
Berninghaus was born in 1874 in St. Louis. Self-taught, he
sketched the St. Louis waterfront where tales from trappers and cowboys sparked
a fascination with the old west. Best known for his work with the Taos Society
of Artists, he also competed for commissions to decorate public buildings. In
1937, he won the commission for the Fort Scott Kansas federal court mural.
Often misidentified as “WPA art,” the post office and courtroom
murals were commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts. “The Section,” as it was
commonly called, was a project of the Treasury Department. The Section’s main
function was to enhance public spaces with high quality works of art. Unlike
WPA projects, artists were not chosen on the basis of need, but through
nationwide competitions. There are 22 intact Section paintings and murals in
Kansas.
The Fort Scott mural is in excellent condition – the colors
clean and vibrant. It is hard to explain how big this painting is. My estimate
was 24 feet by 8 feet. While not open to the public, post office personnel will
proudly show it upon request. The
post office is located at 120 South National Avenue
in Fort Scott Kansas. You can call ahead and ask about a viewing at (620)
223-1410.
I sincerely thank Todd McDermed, Supervisor of Customer
Services, and Postmaster Robert Vacca for the chance to view this hidden
treasure of Kansas.
