The Story Behind the Historic Church History Mural in Cody, Wyoming

Edward T. Grigware, a Western artist who was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spent 11 months studying Church history to create a massive mural inside the rotunda of Cody’s first Latter-day Saint meetinghouse. The artwork, which he called his "masterpiece," covers a 36-foot diameter dome and depicts key moments in pioneer history.

The mural is located in the Historic Cody Mural and Museum in Cody, Wyoming. The building serves a dual purpose, acting as both a functioning ward house and a museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Bighorn Basin.

The museum’s mission has recently expanded following the October 2026 dedication of the Cody Wyoming Temple. “We’re just so grateful to have a temple of our own,” Sister Georgina Hopkin said.

Historical Mural in Cody Wyoming Inspected- Evaluated, Art Conservation of Mormon/LDS Art

How did the mural come to be?

The project began in the late 1940s after the local congregation grew large enough to require its own chapel. Construction on the building, designed by California architect Douglas W. Burton, was completed in 1949. While the rotunda was originally intended to house a church bell, local leaders decided a different purpose was more appropriate.

After a meeting with Elder Henry D. Moyle, then an Apostle, Glenn Nielson and Bishop Lloyd Taggart decided to commission a mural depicting Church history. They approached Edward T. Grigware, an artist who had moved to Cody in the late 1930s. Although Grigware was not a member of the faith, he spent nearly a year studying its history and visiting various historic sites to ensure accuracy.

Historic Cody Mural

The creation of the artwork involved major logistical hurdles. Grigware insisted on using pure Irish linen, a material he described as the “choicest of artist’s canvas,” which was not locally available. Olive Nielson, the wife of first counselor Glenn E. Nielson, eventually located the necessary amount of linen in a small fabric shop in Montreal, Quebec, during a business trip.

“I painted the love and respect that I hold in my heart for these indomitable people.”

Grigware attributed the guidance of his brush to a “hand greater than his own.” He executed the work by first applying watercolors and then finishing with oil-based paints once the linen was glued to the curved rotunda walls.

What does the artwork depict?

The mural spans several historical eras, beginning with the year 1827 when Joseph Smith received the gold plates from the angel Moroni. It continues through the martyrdom of Joseph Smith in 1844, the exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, and the eventual settlement in the Salt Lake Valley.

Historic Cody Mural and Museum

Grigware also incorporated the Church’s first eight prophets into the design. Elder Kurt Hopkin, one of the museum’s directors, noted that Grigware learned how important the Church’s first eight prophets were in the Church and the Restoration of the gospel.

The technical execution of the piece required Grigware to overcome the challenges of a curved surface. To prevent visual distortion across the vertical and horizontal curves, he assembled a series of black-and-white photographs in a single line to serve as a guide. He also utilized pen-and-ink etchings he had personally made during visits to various Church history sites.

Who manages the museum today?

The museum portion of the building did not open until September 1982, more than three decades after the mural was completed. It currently houses photos, artifacts, and a family history center that document the history of the Bighorn Basin.

Elder Kurt Hopkin and his wife, Sister Georgina Hopkin, have directed the museum for 12 years. Their management includes overseeing six missionary couples each year who provide tours during the primary operating season from May through September. For the rest of the year, the Hopkins provide tours by appointment.

The facility underwent major renovations in 2016, which included a rededication. Despite these modern updates, the mural remains a constant. Grigware, who died in Cody in 1960, reportedly intended for the paintings to last at least 100 years.

The Historic Cody Mural and Museum is located in Cody, Wyoming. Visitors can view the rotunda and the adjoining museum collections during the summer months, or schedule private tours with the Hopkins during the off-season.