Greetings from Cuba Missouri

Remember vintage postcards? A rare occurrence these days, however, postcards were produced as an easy and inexpensive way to communicate, advertise, and share a little fun while on vacation. Viva Cuba’s most recent outdoor art installation depicts the era of the postcard with a “Greetings from Cuba Missouri” motif. With a vintage feel, the new mural at 606 W Washington St. revives the essence of a road trip on Route 66.

Cuba’s new postcard
Viva Cuba is a beautification group that strives to create attractive spaces in not-so-pretty places. Made possible by an Impact 100 grant, Viva Cuba continues their mission to keep Cuba beautiful for its residents and visitors with a new mural. Impact100 is a women-led group that collectively works to improve the quality of life in Crawford County with impactful grants.

“Cuba is such a unique town and Route 66 destination! We are grateful to have a community that supports the arts in so many ways. From monuments to murals, our city embraces history, art, culture, and so much more,” comments Jill Barnett, Chairperson of Viva Cuba.

Yep, she did it again!
Collaborating again with Artist Shelly Smith Steiger, her exclusively designed postcard unfolds on the walls of the Steve Paulus Law Firm. Perched atop her scaffolding, Steiger paints in unforgiving temperatures under the unrelenting Midwest sun. Her art is certainly a gift to the community and to all the travelers on Route 66. Steiger always finds time to talk to passersby and the occasional tour group when she works on a project. Steiger has been involved in numerous Viva Cuba mural projects. Her talent and love of Cuba make this artist a beloved local celebrity.

History of the postcard.
Postcards gained popularity during the era of the highway construction boom during 1930-1950 and the uptick in auto sales. Americans were changing the way they worked, played, vacationed, and communicated with one another. Thanks to 20th-century American travel postcard printer, Curt Teich, who immigrated to America in 1895 from Germany. His company introduced the first brightly colored linen-textured postcards with the infamous line: “Greetings From…” In fact, deltiologists – people who study postcards – estimate publishers developed 150,000 different images and printed millions of copies. Sold for a penny each, the postcard soon became a favorite travel souvenir.