Back during the Great Depression, the government took on the enormous task of getting people back to work, and just like in recent times, that meant improving infrastructure. They built roads, dams, parks, pools, courthouses, and the such, employing skilled tradesmen, architects, engineers, laborers, and artists.
Yes, artists. The depression hadn't left many professions unscathed, and artists gotta eat too. So, a lot of these projects got adorned with art, some very nice art, in my humble opinion.
The Quay County courthouse in Tucumcari, New Mexico is a good example, getting decorated with a couple of cows, a ranch scene, and a railroad scene. The art often reflected the local economy or history.
The next time you're at a large building that appears to have been built during the 30's, take a look around, the odds are, you'll find some interesting decorations.
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