Hidden courthouse murals explained

Three old pieces of art are getting attention again after being covered up for most of their existence. We first told you about the murals at the Federal Courthouse in Cedar Rapids a few weeks ago.

It's hard to see it now, but behind the paint is one mural depicting the evolution of the judicial system. It starts with a lynching.

Senior Judge Edward McManus says the two other murals show the evolution of Agriculture and Industry.

He says they were painted after the Great Depression, as part of the New Deal.

But, he says the judge before him, Henry Graven, had them painted over. McManus says he was told Graven didn't think seeing a lynching was appropriate in a courtroom.

Then, in 1962, McManus took up the bench.

"There were no pictures of what was there before, and I was curious to know what it was," McManus said.

He had the paint removed, and then asked three local art experts, including the well-known Marvin Cone for advice on what to do.

"After they looked it all over, they said it is of no artistic nor much historic value, you just as well paint it over again," McManus said.

And he did.

Since the flood the Federal Court system moved out and workers started to pull just some of the paint off again, it stopped with little to see.

The city of Cedar Rapids will soon take possession of the courthouse. It gets the building in exchange for the land where the new courthouse is going up.

There is no word on what the city will do with the walls.

Justin Foss, KCRG-TV