The Stone Mural Art of Salmo

In 1990, local quarry owner Iris Lamb was looking for a creative way to jumpstart stone sales. Realizing that creating direct demand for the material was key, the Stone Masonry Institute was born.

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The project truly found its artistic voice when local artist Charlotte Planidin came onboard. Tasked with bringing the area's rich cultural and natural history to life, Charlotte designed—and with some assistance, constructed—Salmo’s very first stone mural. The result was a stunning, highly detailed image of a historic placer miner holding a gold pan, standing an impressive 6.7 meters high by 8.5 meters wide.

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These murals served as vital, hands-on training projects for the Institute's masonry students. Under this educational model, Charlotte masterminded and sketched each intricate design, while the students brought them to life stone by stone. It wasn't paint-by-number; it was a unique, collective process of "rock-by-number" art.​

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1. Placer Miner

2. Elk

3. Mining Tunnel

4. Bighorn Sheep

5. Springboard Loggers

6. Grizzly Bear

7. Swimming Salmon

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Download the printable map here or use the interactive map below. You can select the location icons to view a photo of the mural.