Alley Cat - Allerton
The Alley Cat mural is a restoration of an original 1993 Walldogs mural. It celebrates the famous six-toed cats of the Inn of the Six Toed Cat, which hosted many artists during the Walldogs festivals.
Location: south side of the Inn of the Six Toed Cat, 200 N Central Ave, Allerton IA 50008
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Alley Cat
This mural commemorates the Inn of the Six Toed Cat, and especially the six-toed cats that gave the inn its name. It features a variety of cats having a hootenanny, and it’s a recreation of an original 1993 mural. You can see remnants of the original mural on a small building directly west of the Inn.
The hotel was one of Allerton’s original railroad hotels, built by the Allerton Hotel Company in 1909 to accommodate travelers stopping over in Allerton while waiting for onward trains (or visiting our chautauquas!). It was especially useful for railroad conductors, who often stopped in Allerton and waited to change to their next train.
Throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and beyond, the hotel continued to operate while also renting space to local businesses, such as a beauty shop, a shoe shop, and a dentist. However, when passenger rail service in Allerton ended in 1967, the hotel suffered from a lack of railroad guests. It was eventually turned into small apartments, primarily for seniors.
In the 1980s, the hotel was reborn after being purchased by Bob Finley. He refurbished the hotel in its original Victorian style, creating a bed and breakfast with an acclaimed restaurant. The hotel has continued to operate after Bob Finley’s death, hosting vacationers, hunters, and other guests.
As for the six-toed cats: Bob Finley named the hotel after the six-toed cat that hung around the inn while he was refurbishing. Six-toed cats (also called polydactyl cats) are more famously located in Key West at Ernest Hemingway’s former home and museum.
Find out more at: http://www.6toedcat.com/inn-history
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about the art
This mural was painted during the Walldog Mural Festival in Wayne County, Iowa, from August 30 - September 3, 2023.
The lead designer was David Butler from Syracuse, IN. David was an original 1993 Walldog and has participated in dozens of events around the world. He returned to Allerton to redesign his original Alley Cat mural.
FAQs
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The Walldogs are an international group of muralists and sign-painters who volunteer their time to create community art. They have painted throughout the US and around the world.
The Walldog movement started in Allerton, Iowa, in 1993. Local artist Nancy Bennett invited dozens of signpainters to Allerton to paint murals in Allerton’s downtown, and the local community opened their homes to host these artists. Since that first gathering, the Walldog movement has grown tremendously.
The Walldogs celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2023 by returning to Wayne County, Iowa. They have meets planned for the next several years to continue this community art tradition. You can learn more at thewalldogs.org.
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In 2023, the Walldogs painted 16 murals. They also painted new signage at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
These murals included 12 new designs, as well as 4 restorations of the original 1993 Walldog murals in Allerton.
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We recommend starting at Prairie Trails Museum in Corydon, Iowa. The “Come, Come Ye Saints” mural recognizes the passage of the Mormon Trail through Wayne County.
From there, you can drive in an approximate circle to Promise City, Seymour, Allerton, Clio, Lineville, Humeston, and Millerton, before returning to Corydon to see the rest of the murals there.
Alternatively, you can start at any mural that works for your route.
The entire route takes approximately 2 hours to drive.
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Check our main FAQ page for more details and contact info.
Next stop
Visit Clio to see the “Shane Hill Sluggers” mural.
The Shane Hill baseball team was a famous farm baseball team in the late 1800s. They rarely lost a game, and one of their star pitchers was recruited by the New York Giants.
You can find the Shane Hill Sluggers mural on the north side of Branded Design Photography: 426 Main St, Clio, IA 50052.
Clio is 9.5mi southwest of Allerton on paved roads.
For the full list of murals and locations, visit this page or download the map.