The Controversial History of the Coit Tower Murals
We’ll talk with history professor Robert W. Cherny about the Coit Tower murals and their legacy.
January 3, 2025
55 min
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2,636 of 3,393
January 3, 2025
The Controversial History of the Coit Tower Murals
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55:44This episodeThe Controversial History of the Coit Tower Murals
Summary
The murals inside of San Francisco’s Coit Tower are a popular tourist destination, but have been a source of contention from their inception. In his new book, “The Coit Tower Murals: New Deal Art and Political Controversy in San Francisco,” San Francisco State professor Robert Cherny chronicles the history of the murals, which were painted in the style of Diego Rivera and depict life in the Bay Area during the 1930s. They were created as part of the New Deal programs that supporting artists following the Great Depression. But controversies sprang up over the murals’ perceived pro-Communist imagery and the value of public art. We’ll talk with Cherny about the murals and their legacy.
Guests:
Robert Cherny, professor emeritus of history, San Francisco State University; author of "The Coit Tower Murals: New Deal Art and Political Controversy in San Francisco"
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