You might say history in the city of Toppenish has taken on a life of its own.
It's in the form of more than 70 historic murals, scattered from one end of town to the other, created by some of the best-known mural artists in the Northwest.
The murals have created a new identity for the town, which is situated on the Yakama Indian Reservation.
Visitors travel from across the United States and around the world to see for themselves the historic artistry that continues to grow.
The Toppenish Mural Society began commissioning the murals in 1989, and established a tradition that has lasted ever since, with an event called Mural-In-A-Day.
It takes place each year on the first Saturday of June, and attracts a team of Western artists who converge on the mural site and quite literally paint an entire mural in one day.
The mural site typically takes on a festive air, with food and arts and crafts vendors, and live music, and bleacher seating set up for those who want to watch the artists at work. 
Making it possible to get the mural completed in one day takes a great deal of coordination and planning.
The process begins with creation of an original painting commissioned by the Mural Society. 
That original painting is then transferred to a grid drawn to scale to fit the site of the mural, which varies each year.
Reproducing the original onto the grid is called "cartooning," and it must be done carefully to assure that the mural matches the original.
The cartooning is completed and ready for use by the mural artists when the painting begins.
The team is guided by a lead artist, who sees to it that the original is faithfully re-created.  
While the new mural is being created, many visitors take advantage of the horse-drawn wagon mural tour that is available from May through September.
Toppenish is also home to the Northern Pacific Rail and Steam Museum, the American Hop Museum, and the Yakama Nation Cultural Center and Museum.
Visitors strolling downtown will also find a variety of quaint shops and an authentic old-time soda fountain that still serves sarsaparilla, along with other more modern beverages and food.