This tour would not be possible without the team at Main Street Wooster (Shannon Waller, Kerri Manley, Kiera Smith).

Tour works best with Wi-Fi OFF

This tour was made possible through the generous support of:

Donald & Alice Noble Foundation, Inc.

Art represents the heart and soul of the many individuals who experience life in Wooster. Many artistic projects and venues that foster space for community, creativity, and entertainment have an atmosphere that builds a stronger community and a lively downtown. Paintings, tile art, music, cinema, and other arts in Wooster continue to grow and develop with the opportunity to both create and engage with the arts intentionally and unintentionally. Walking along the street, the buildings and architecture are filled with art. Shops are filled with the craft of local artisans. There is so much opportunity for more, yet still, so much surrounding us that goes unnoticed.

           This tour will take you through an array of arts for a unique experience with the artists that have made downtown the beautiful place it is today. It will engage you in art and inspire you to appreciate what’s around us as well as to create your own. Art is necessary to help a city thrive and bring radiance to the community while also creating a sense of inclusion.

Stop 1: 237 S. Walnut Street

Wayne Center for the Arts


Wayne Center for the Arts is a visual and performing arts organization that was founded in 1973. It has continued to be one of the foundations for artistic movements in Wooster. WCA offers classes in the arts for all ages from dance, to writing, to pottery, and vocal lessons. Each class and exhibit has the purpose of developing and reawakening the passion to create in the community. The Wayne Center for the Arts is also responsible for many programs and events that promote art around the city.

The Children's Arch was moved in 2020 to its permanent home at Wayne Center for the Arts.

Stop 2: 220 West Liberty Street

Wayne County Public Library


Through the Liberty street facing doors of the Wayne County Public Library is a beautiful mural made by Brigid of Artfind Tile. This scene of a young girl reading a book to her dog is not only a visual addition to the library, but as a promotion of reading for the youth within the community. Reading to pets is a proven teaching tool to get kids into the spirit of reading. Not only is this mural a piece of art, but it is a symbol and call to create and engage with more arts.

Stop 3: 140 S. Market Street

Local Roots Cafe & Market


Local Roots Market & Cafe is a local co-op and year long marketplace with fresh produce, baked goods, cafe, and wellness products all made locally by small businesses. Local Roots also sells handmade arts, crafts & so much more. These products are made by local artisans.

Stop 4: 144 W. Liberty Street

Before I Die Wall


The Before I Die wall is located on the side of Spoon Market & Deli and is part of a larger collective art movement. It is a global art project started in New Orleans that prompts and invites people to reflect on their morality, share what matters to them, and appreciate life. The wall brings people together and relates their individuality to one another. The Before I Die wall connects Wooster to thousands of other walls and millions of people around the world. Feel free to fill in your own response to connect to the creative community of Wooster!

Stop 5: 211 S. Market Street

Grigio Wine & Cocktail Bar


Grigio Wine & Cocktail Bar located on South Market Street, offers not only delicious drinks, but also is a gallery for local artists to submit their work to be displayed and sold within the venue. This is a great opportunity for artists to have a place downtown and for Grigio Wine & Cocktail Bar to showcase their appreciation for local artists in Wooster.

Stop 6: 116 E. South Street

The Lyric Theater


There has been a long and interesting history of theaters in downtown Wooster, both for live performances and cinema. At one point there were three theaters downtown; Alhambra, Wallace, and Lyric. In 1916, John McCormick, the manager of Alhambra set off a bomb in the Wallace theater and stole a projector from the Lyric theater. After McCormick's arrest and imprisonment, Alhambra theater fell under. In 1933, the Wallace theater was torn down.

The Lyric theater expanded, and went through multiple different ownerships, names, and locations. But there has not been a Lyric Theater since the 1990's.

The Lyric Theater is now being renovated and will re-open in 2024. It will be a place ready to share the arts and entertainment with the whole community as an independent cinema and live event space. The theater will continue to honor the legacy and nostalgia of the old theater in renewed way.

Stop 7: 143 S. Market Street

Artfind Tile


The exterior of this shop is made from tiles collected from the 1800s and is just as beautiful as the interior of the shop as well as the work the shop does around the city. Please make an appointment to visit the inside.

Artfind Tile has helped with many art projects around the city: the children's arch, the tile benches downtown, the mural in the library, a mural at Christmas Run Pool, and a mural at Wooster High School

s pool. Artfind Tiles liven up whatever space they are in.

Stop 8: Wooster Public Square Historic District

Wooster Tile Benches



The benches in downtown Wooster, are another art project put into place by Main Street Wooster, The City of Wooster, Wayne Center for the Arts, and Artfind Tile. In 2020, there was a call to the public to submit their own pieces of art and photography with themes that represented the multifaceted soul of Wooster. Over 200 submissions went through voting committees, and the ones that were selected are displayed in the square. These art pieces liven up the city visually, but the sentiment behind them also represents community and a sense of pride for the city.

Stop 9: 107 W. Liberty Street

Wayne County Courthouse


The Atlases/Telamones on the Courthouse serve as columns to the building, but are also incredible sculptures integrated into the architecture. The Atlases originate from the story of Atlas holding up the earth in Greek mythology, as they are now holding up the courthouse. The current courthouse was completed in 1879, but it has gone through fires, damage, and renovations since then. The information on who created the telemones has been a bit of uncertainty due to an old newspaper article with other consistencies. However, according to news sources of the time, it is believed that there were two sculptors who worked together to create the four atlases: George Rackle born in Baden, Germany and Henry Schildmacher, born in Rine, Prussia. Rackle was an esteemed sculptor with other extravagant pieces, and Schildmacher had also been a part of other design and sculpting teams.

Stop 10: Downtown Pavilion

Historic Downtown Wooster Public Square


The pavilion in Downtown Wooster's historic square is a center for the consumption of the arts. This public space serves the community and creates an open area for performances and events across the mediums of art. Main Street Wooster hosts Main Street Music and other events where local musicians are able to perform. The area has also been used for outdoor dances & performances.