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News Release

A mural of Daniel Boone is being painted at Winchester’s Main Street location of Harper’s Pawn Shop, honoring the famous pioneer’s vital role in the history and development of Winchester/Clark County.

Winchester artist Kevin Osbourn will paint the mural. For months, he has worked on the project with Winchester resident and nationally known Daniel Boone living historian Steven Y. Caudill, a Boone descendant who travels the country portraying the famous frontiersman. Renowned Kentucky Living photographer Tim Webb also assisted by taking photos of Caudill portraying Boone at Boonesborough State Park.

“Several months ago, Steve and Tim graciously did a photo shoot of Steve portraying Boone in authentic pioneer-era clothing at the original fort,” Osbourn said. “Their work enabled me to do a painting called ‘This is Boone Country’ that is being used as a prototype for the mural. Weather permitting, we hope the project can be completed in October.”

Chris Ware, a long-time Kentucky artist now retired from the Lexington Herald-Leader, completed the mural’s graphic design. Ware incorporated the painting image in the design. When completed, the mural is expected to be approximately 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide.

Boone left a lasting imprint across the region. Daughters Levina and Rebecca are buried in Clark County’s Schollsville community, and numerous descendants live in the region to this day.

The Boone family moved often. Squire Boone Sr., Daniel’s father, settled the family in the Shenandoah Valley near Winchester, Va., before moving the family to North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley. From there, Boone began exploring Kentucky.

Contrary to common belief, historians have noted that Boone never wore a coonskin hat and was not the first to discover Kentucky or the Cumberland Gap, but he did lead the pioneers who built the Wilderness Road on which an estimated 300,000 settlers eventually traveled and he established Boonesborough near present-day Winchester. His leadership at the settlement and other locations across the state had tremendous impacts on both Kentucky and American history.

The paint and materials for the project were donated by Sherwin-Williams, located in the Winchester Plaza. The colors were meticulously mixed by store manager Alex Wilson and assistant store manager Tim Dixon. Spectrum Photography and Bypass Rental have also assisted.

“It has been an incredible journey portraying Daniel Boone across this country for the last 18 years, now local Artist Kevin Osbourn brings Boone to a rightful place to honor him in our community here in Clark County,” Caudill said.

“The mural has become a community project with help and support from Steve and other friends, city officials, the Winchester fire department and multiple businesses across town,” Osbourn said. “The goal is to honor Boone’s tremendous legacy and create something the city can be proud of.”