The Chumash were early inhabitants of the Lompoc and Central Coast area. In fact they were the largest tribe in California. They were expert in living off the land and were in fact so good at it that they did not even need to plant any crops. They were a semi-nomadic people that had a few permanent settlements, but most of the people would travel around the countryside exploiting the native plants and animals for their livelihood. This mural depicts the local beach where they would often launch their massive ocean going canoes and hunt down the large Gray Whales on their annual migrations through these waters.
Artist: Master Artist Robert Thomas and 17 artist helpers
Location: 126 E. Ocean

This is another mural that depicts California Mission life, the Spanish were the first European settlers here and established a mission in Lompoc in the 1700's. It was named Mission La Concepcion Purisima De Maria Santisima. I suppose they often called it 'La Mission' as we now shorten it to 'The Mission' This mission is the most well reconstructed in all of California. The main section of the mural shows the mission as it appears now. A very worthwhile spot for a walk, history lesson,  and a picnic lunch.
Artist: Leonardo Nunez
Loc: 206 E. Ocean, East wall of Gracian Ag. and Feed.

The Gold Miners that came to California largely bypassed Lompoc in the Gold rush of 1849 because the soils and rivers here showed no 'color'. But in the late 1880s someone found some gold on the local beach. Within a couple weeks several hundred claims were staked for several miles along the beach. The rush continued for several months and hundreds of pounds of nuggets and dust were recovered from the beach sands.  But as quickly as it started the gold stopped coming in, what caused this? Did the shifting currents uncover a vein of gold and then cover it back with sand never to be exposed again? Or was there some lonely traveler from the gold digs to the north who perished in these rough waters and was lost along with his gold which later washed ashore? Will the answer ever be known? It is a mystery of the Lompoc Valley.

Certainly the moral founding fathers of Lompoc's quaint Temperance Colony did not want prostitutes in their 'clean' town, but with all the ranches around, and cowboys with a little money in their pockets and Lompoc the only town for a days ride, it was inevitable that our 'Faire Towne' would have a couple houses of ill-repute. Why it is rumored that alcohol was even served in these illegal establishments. This mural shows the front of a couple houses where in the old days a lonely cowboy could secure a 'companion' and spend his hard won money.

Yes, Lompoc has never been really famous for it's shopping. Most residents travel to the north or the south for much of their shopping. This artwork shows the kind of shops that were common in Lompoc even when I was a kid, little Mom and Pop stores selling canned beans and corn from Mrs. Sugars back acre, and Mrs. Pitees' chicken eggs.

Painted by Greg Johnson

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