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Pubic art on Austin’s east side

Mural at historic Blackshear Elementary School on 11th Street on the east side of Austin, Texas.

I spent part of a recent morning looking for some of the murals and other public art on the east side of Austin, Texas.

All of the art work here is on or south of 11th street and east of Interstate 35.

Historic Blackshear Elementary School on 11th Street on the east side of Austin, Texas. — Blackshear Elementary School – Austin

Public art on the east side of Austin, Texas. — Mural – Austin’s east side

We Rise mural on Austin’s east side

Austin has plenty of public art – especially on the east side.

The “We Rise” mural on the corner of 12th Street and Chicon is one of the best known.

Images within the mural include Selena, Jimi Hendrix, Biggie Smalls, James Brown, Tupac Shakur, Prince and many others.

– story about We Rise mural on e4youth.org

Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters at Sanchos in San Antonio

Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters at Sancho's Cantina in San Antonio on Saturday, June 14, 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters at Sancho’s Cantina in San Antonio on Saturday, June 14, 2025. – photo by Joe Alexander

Brother Dave and the Barrio Blasters brought their combination of rock, blues and Texas funk to Sancho’s Cantina near downtown San Antonio on Saturday.

Flying out of Bozeman, Montana

A plane takes off from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. - photo by Joe Alexander — A plane takes off from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana. – photo by Joe Alexander

My hotel was about a mile from the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

The afternoon before I headed home, I was killing time at the hotel as I saw a plane that had just taken off was ascending to the east with the mountains in the background.

About 24 hours later, I would be making a similar departure.

The day I headed home, I ended up spending a few extra hours at the airport due to airline issues. (That’s a whole other story). So naturally I took a few more photos. Fortunately, the concourse has lot of really big windows.

You can see the Bridger Range as you look to the north. Those are the mountains in the background as the planes take off. To the south and southeast is the Gallatin Range. Both the mountains to the north and south of Bozeman are part of a cluster of six mountain ranges that make up the Gallatin National Forest

The mountains of the Bridger Range, part of the Gallatin National Forest, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. - photo by Joe Alexander — The mountains of the Bridger Range, part of the Gallatin National Forest, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

The mountains of the Bridger Range, part of the Gallatin National Forest, as seen from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

Lake Coeur D’Alene in Idaho

Lake Coeur D'Alene, Idaho in the late afternoon in May. - photo by Joe Alexander — Lake Coeur D’Alene, Idaho in the late afternoon in May. – photo by Joe Alexander

I spent part of an afternoon along the edge of Lake Coeur D’Alene that is near the downtown.

I didn’t have a perfect angle to photograph the sunset on the water, but it was a pretty place that was an easy walk from the downtown shops and restaurants.

I was here is the third week of May, but I have a feeling this could be a pretty happening area in the summer.

As a sidenote, I don’t think I have ever seen as many T-shirts and other swag with Bigfoot on them as I did in the shops in Coeur D’Alene. He seems to be very popular (or at least profitable) here.

This friendly looking moose wasn't right on the lakefront in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, but he was only about a block away and looked like he wanted his picture taken. - photo by Joe Alexander — This friendly looking moose wasn’t right on the lakefront in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, but he was only about a block away and looked like he wanted his picture taken.

Mural in downtown Coeur D’Alene, Idaho

I was wandering around Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, after I had walked over to the lakefront and then had lunch at Hudson’s Hamburgers on Sherman Ave.

I found this large mural overlooking a parking lot near the corner of 2nd Street and Coeur D’Alene Ave.

Sprague Lake in eastern Washington state

Sprague Lake Rest Area in eastern Washington State is about 40 miles west of downtown Spokane. - photo by Joe Alexander — Sprague Lake Rest Area in eastern Washington State is about 40 miles west of downtown Spokane. – photo by Joe Alexander

You hit the Sprague Lake Rest Area about a half hour before you roll into Spokane on Interstate 90. The long, thin Sprague Lake runs roughly parallel to the interstate for about six miles.

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, this is a good place to fish for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, brown bullhead and channel catfish.

This part of the Washington state wasn’t as scenic as the western half of the state – but there wasn’t a lot of traffic and it was a pleasant drive.

Windmills in central Washington state

Windmills (wind turbines) near Interstate 90 in central Washington State. - photo by Joe Alexander — Windmills (wind turbines) near Interstate 90 in central Washington State. – photo by Joe Alexander

I’ve always been intrigued with windmills.

The giant wind turbines that generate electricity in parts of this country don’t have the same kind of character as the windmills I sometimes still see that pump water in rural Texas.

But the contrast between the nearly all white wind turbines set against the terrain and sky can be dramatic.

These were near Interstate 90 and I know I was east of Ellensburg, Washington. Looking at Google Maps, it looks like the PUD Wind Farm and Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility are in this area.

Indian John Hill Rest Area in Washington State

The peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State still had some snow in late May and are visible to the north of the Indian John Hill Rest Area along Interstate 90. - photo by Joe Alexander — The peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington State still had some snow in late May and are visible to the north of the Indian John Hill Rest Area along Interstate 90. – photo by Joe Alexander

Driving Interstate 90 through the western half of Washington State offers plenty of scenic views.

The Indian John Hill Rest Area about 200 miles east of Seattle a place to stop and take pictures, as well as stretch your legs and get a cup of coffee.

The Indian John Hill Rest Area along Interstate 90. - photo by Joe Alexander — Indian John Hill Rest Area

Snoqualmie River in Washington State

Bridge 35 across the South Fork Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, in May 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — Bridge 35 across the South Fork Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, in May 2025. – photo by Joe Alexander

This is the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, including railroad Bridge 35.

The South Fork joins the main Snowqualmie River just north of North Bend.

The Snoqualmie River is 45 miles long and runs roughly southeast to northwest in western Washington State and passes not from North Bend and Interstate 90.

The “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign from the TV show was on the north side of the main river by the Three Forks Natural Area a mile or two north of North Bend and right across from where the South Fork flows into the Snoqualmie.

The South Fork Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, about 30 miles east of Seattle, in May 2025. - photo by Joe Alexander — The South Fork Snoqualmie River near North Bend, Washington, about 30 miles east of Seattle, in May 2025.