Grant Wood’s Largest Murals

Parks Library, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Inside Iowa State’s Parks Library, Grant Wood’s mural cycle Whence Came You? stretches across the grand reading room. Painted in 1930s tempera, the panels celebrate education, agriculture, and Iowa’s land-grant mission.

Visitors can view the murals during library hours. The scale — nearly 2,400 square feet — makes it one of Wood’s largest public works, yet many travelers overlook it on the way to football weekends.

Tripods are discouraged during study weeks; a fast prime lens works well in the soft interior light. Combine with the Grant Wood Studio in Cedar Rapids for context.