Detroit “Whale Tower” Mural
Whether you are just driving through or you are enjoying an inspiring walk along the streets of Detroit, you can’t miss the large painted mural of whales that sits on the David Broderick Tower Building. “Wow, look at that mural,” may be words that spill out of your mouth the first time you see it. The “Whale Tower” mural measures 180 feet tall, which is comparable to nearly two NBA basketball courts placed end-to-end, and 65 feet wide. It is situated on the 34-story steel and limestone historical building.[1] Extending nearly to the building’s edges, the mural envelopes the grid-like windows. The murals limited color palette of soft blue and turquoise creates a juxtaposition against the concrete skyline. The four whales in the mural appear to be suspended in space. Their nearly vertical orientation conveys a sense of movement and playfulness. The harmonious composition is dominated by three whales under the waterline where a gradient of turquoise blue, the darkest shade at the base transitioning upwards towards the lightest tone near the surface, leads the viewer’s eye to a visual pause point where a circular sunspot draws attention. The viewer is then guided upward again to the highest-contrast focal point, where the darker, more visually dominant humpback whale breaks the water’s surface. The bright white splashes of water surrounding the breaching whale convey a sense of playful energy as it propels itself upward into the blue sky that is holding a few billowing clouds.
The Detroit “Whale Tower” mural was created by the artist, Wyland. It is number 76 of over 100 marine life murals created by the artist. Wyland has been creating large scale murals for over 40 years spread across 79 cities in 17 countries. The “Whale Tower” mural was donated by Wyland who grew up in Metro Detroit. The dedication ceremony occurred on October 13, 1997, and was led by Sander Levin, Michigan Congressman and Michael Bushard, Michigan State Senator. It was considered a gift to the people of Detroit with the intention of encouraging a city-wide revitalization.[2]
Detroit in the 1990s saw less industry and less people as they moved into the suburbs.[3] I moved to a Detroit suburb in December of 1997. I explored the blighted streets during the day and often did not see a single person. There were only two businesses open during my visits, one was a hat shop, and the other was a coffee shop called Café DeTroit. I did not know anything about Detroit’s history at that time but as I drank my coffee, I remember looking out on the streets feeling sad and thinking what a beautiful waste. And I remember the whale mural.
Detroit has come a very long way since 1997, and the “Whale Tower” mural has come along with it. From the same corner where the café used to sit, now houses high-end designer brands and the surrounding streets are unrecognizable. The resurgence makes me happy to see the beauty of Detroit blossom. Unfortunately, with the growth comes advertisers. The 86,300 people on the streets daily, have to experience ads placed over this culturally significant mural.[4] Even though the Detroit community has spoken out against the ads, the controversial advertising continues, especially during Detroit’s sports seasons.[5]
Wyland founded the Wyland Foundation in 1993 with a mission: “Through public art, hands-on science, and community programs, we help people understand one simple truth: Most ocean pollution starts on land–and we have the power to stop it.”[6] Wyland’s desire to bring beauty to Detroit through his gift while bringing environmental awareness is a lesson to mural artists around the world that art does matter, it can make a difference.
[1] Historic Detroit, “Broderick Tower,” accessed March 27, 2026, https://www.historicdetroit.org/buildings/broderick-tower
[2] Wyland Foundation, “Detroit, Michigan Wyland Whaling Wall #76,” accessed March 27, 2026, https://wylandfoundation.org/detroit-michigan-wyland-whaling-wall-76/
[3] Detroit Free Press, “Detroit 1990s Historical Photos,” February 12, 2025, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2025/02/12/detroit-1990s-historical-photos/78215923007/
[4] Downtown Detroit Partnership, “Downtown 2025 by the Numbers,” accessed March 27, 2026, https://downtowndetroit.org/news-insights/downtown-2025-by-the-numbers/
[5] Detroit Free Press, “Broker Wanted $585K to Not Cover Detroit Whale Mural with QR Code,” September 13, 2024, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2024/09/13/broker-wanted-585k-to-not-cover-detroit-whale-mural-with-qr-code/75172481007/
[6] Wyland Foundation, “Detroit, Michigan Wyland Whaling Wall #76.”
Bibliography
Detroit Free Press. “Broker Wanted $585K to Not Cover Detroit Whale Mural with QR Code.” September 13, 2024. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2024/09/13/broker-wanted-585k-to-not-cover-detroit-whale-mural-with-qr-code/75172481007/
Detroit Free Press. “Detroit 1990s Historical Photos.” February 12, 2025. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2025/02/12/detroit-1990s-historical-photos/78215923007/
Downtown Detroit Partnership. “Downtown 2025 by the Numbers.” Accessed March 27, 2026. https://downtowndetroit.org/news-insights/downtown-2025-by-the-numbers/
Historic Detroit. “Broderick Tower.” Accessed April 4, 2026. https://www.historicdetroit.org/buildings/broderick-tower
Wyland Foundation. “Detroit, Michigan Wyland Whaling Wall #76.” Accessed March 27, 2026. https://wylandfoundation.org/detroit-michigan-wyland-whaling-wall-76/
