I’m a New Yorker through and through, but i spent a few years (mostly pining for my hometown) in our fair neighbor to the south, Philadelphia. Though Philly’s lovely, I wasn’t in love with it- except for the gorgeous murals that cover so many of its buildings.

I can't get over this underpass.

The profusion of murals is no coincidence. Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program was founded in 1984 to help wipe out what was, at that time, a graffiti crisis. The concept is simple- if you engage inner city youth in beautifying neighboring buildings, they are less likely to deface them. And it works, too. By the time i got to Philly in 2005, it was virtually grafitti free. Now, 2,800 murals later, the program has also educated more than 20,000 young people in mural making.

An inspiring place to learn.

Murals range in size from single-story homes to 8-story buildings, and reflect the city’s incredible diversity.

A huge Theater of Life mural in the city's theater district.

The program has also grown to include restorative justice and re-entry programs with the Philadelphia prison system.

Healing Walls: Victims' Journey by Cesar Viveros and Parris Stancell

The Mural Arts Program has also had another interesting side effect: many businesses and homeowners have found it so inspiring,  they’ve taken brush, mosaic tile and metalwork to their own walls, creating an incredible array of public art for all.

Fun on Philly's South Street.

Check out Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, a mosaic project by artist Isaiah Zagar that literally stops visitors in their tracks on their trek down South Street, where tourists flock for souveniers, cute boutiques and cheese steaks

I want to do this to my building, too.

You can explore the Philadelphia’s murals for yourself with a special guided tour. See here for more information, or visit MuralFarm.org to view all of the murals online.