Five public artworks opened along Fifth Street on Oct. 9, 2026. The murals are located at 127, 131, 208, 214 and 233 Fifth St., within walking distance of one another.
Published Oct. 19, 2026.
By Hola America News
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Five new public artworks are now on display along Fifth Street in historic Valley Junction, with murals depicting the neighborhood’s railroad history, nightlife and Iowa’s native prairie. All five installations are concentrated in the 100 and 200 blocks of Fifth Street, making them accessible during a short walking visit.
The works debuted Oct. 9, 2026, during Fall Gallery Night. They are part of Vivid Junction – Off the Rails, the first phase of a public art initiative led by the Historic Valley Junction Foundation in partnership with the City of West Des Moines, Bravo Greater Des Moines and Microsoft.
The installations occupy pedestrian walkways connecting Fifth Street with nearby parking areas. The Historic Valley Junction Foundation identifies each mural by its title, artist and street address.
For a walk through all five, the locations are 127, 131, 208, 214 and 233 Fifth St., West Des Moines, IA 50265. Public parking is free throughout the district, with additional lots accessible from Fourth and Sixth streets.
The five Valley Junction murals and their locations
| Mural | Artist | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Night Life | Nick Goettling | 127 Fifth St. |
| Siding | Thomas Agran and Drew Etienne | 131 Fifth St. |
| Catch the Wind | Mike Giron and team | 208 Fifth St. |
| Iowa Prairie Keepers | James Navarro | 214 Fifth St. |
| The Line’s Legacy | Biafra Inc. | 233 Fifth St. |
The Vivid Junction public art project includes individual artist profiles and photographs of all five works.
127 Fifth St. — Night Life traces the district’s past
Night Life, by artist Nick Goettling, uses scenes from different periods to explore how people have gathered and celebrated in Valley Junction.
The artwork moves through the district’s history, beginning with imagery of Ioway people and continuing toward modern festivals, Fourth of July celebrations and other scenes of entertainment.
Goettling developed the project using historical materials, building records and local accounts. The Night Life mural at 127 Fifth St. is located in a pedestrian walkway off the district’s main commercial street.
131 Fifth St. — Siding depicts a locomotive
A short distance away, Siding brings the railroad into focus. Created by Iowa City artists Thomas Agran and Drew Etienne, the work features a large locomotive painted across the wall.
The railroad helped shape the development and identity of Valley Junction, and the mural draws on that connection through its scale and subject.
The Siding mural at 131 Fifth St. is installed near Five Monkeys, one of the district’s art and retail businesses.
208 Fifth St. — Catch the Wind recalls the Rock Island Railroad
Catch the Wind, created by Mike Giron and his team, focuses on Valley Junction’s history along the Rock Island Railroad.
Giron, an Omaha-based artist, has worked on murals and public art installations involving cultural identity and community history. His work in Valley Junction is part of the project’s broader effort to connect the district’s present-day public spaces with its railroad past.
The Catch the Wind installation is located at 208 Fifth St.
214 Fifth St. — Iowa Prairie Keepers celebrates native plants
Des Moines artist James Navarro created Iowa Prairie Keepers, a mural inspired by Iowa’s prairie landscape, native plants and the natural history of the region.
Its design incorporates prairie vegetation, references to Valley Junction’s past and the colors of the neighborhood’s farmers market.
Navarro also drew inspiration from his work studying prairie and oak savanna landscapes at Whiterock Conservancy. The mural’s long floral composition extends along the walkway at 214 Fifth St.
The Iowa Prairie Keepers project combines the area’s natural environment with elements of its commercial and railroad history.
233 Fifth St. — The Line’s Legacy honors railroad workers
The Line’s Legacy, by Minnesota artist Biafra Inc., depicts railroad workers in bold colors and graphic forms.
While other pieces in the series depict trains, transportation routes or the surrounding landscape, this mural centers on people associated with the railroad’s history.
The The Line’s Legacy mural is listed at 233 Fifth St. in the project’s individual artwork directory.
Valley Junction has free public parking near the murals
The five artworks are grouped in the 100 and 200 blocks of Fifth Street, so they can be visited during one walking trip.
Historic Valley Junction offers free public parking, including lots reached from Fourth and Sixth streets. Fifth Street is one-way for vehicles traveling north through the commercial district.
Pedestrian walkways connect the parking areas with the shops and restaurants along Fifth Street. The district also has public restrooms and bicycle parking.
The Valley Junction transportation and parking information includes directions and a district parking map.
All five artworks are part of the first completed phase of Vivid Junction, which the Historic Valley Junction Foundation describes as the largest public art investment in the district’s history. Additional phases are planned, although the foundation has not announced a schedule for them.
Related: Five new murals mark the launch of Valley Junction’s Vivid Junction initiative.
The five completed installations remain located at 127, 131, 208, 214 and 233 Fifth St. in historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines.
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