The Arkansas Historical Commission approved two murals for downtown Texarkana on Wednesday morning, according to Ina McDowell, executive director of Main Street Texarkana.
Main Street's next step is to work with building owners and artists to complete contracts, she said.
One of the murals honors Texarkana's railroad heritage and will be on the south side of Union Station. Art Pletcher will paint it.
The other design is lush, with vibrant colors and running horses. It will be on the north-facing wall of a building behind Zapata's, opposite of Hopkins Icehouse. Joel Wright is the artist.
Both artists are local. Pletcher is known for the work he did on the Scott Joplin mural near the Perot Theatre.
McDowell considers the murals important downtown additions and hopes the one at the railroad station creates a "bookend" effect and adds curb appeal to the city.
"It is on the south side of Union Station where visitors arrive/depart on Amtrak, a very important location, often where a first impression is made of Texarkana and our downtown area," she said.
It will also serve as a "backdrop" to the new landscape Main Street Texarkana just completed.
"That one is part of the beautification of that area," McDowell said earlier. "We want that area to look extra nice for visitors arriving by rail."
The Main Street Texarkana board voted earlier this month to move forward with the murals. The project is funded by grants and money raised by MST.
"We are excited to bring the vibrant colors and historic theme to our downtown," McDowell said.