Hamlet Celebrates Rail Heritage With New Mural
REV funding helps bring Orange Blossom Special to Main Street
Hamlet, North Carolina, has long been defined by the railways that run through its center, earning the town the nickname “Hub of the Seaboard.” That history was highlighted again on Nov. 21, 2025, when a new mural was unveiled on the side of Main Street’s Lackey Building, marking the 100th anniversary of the Orange Blossom Special’s first run.
The mural, Orange Blossom Special, by Max Dowdle, director of NC Public Art, depicts the Seaboard Air Line Railway’s famed passenger train. For decades, the train carried travelers from New York to Florida, leaving its mark on towns along the East Coast before service ended in the early 1950s. Dowdle’s work in Hamlet is part of his broader plan to paint murals in all 100 North Carolina counties, with support from REV, which contributed funding as part of its commitment to community investment and local history.
REV builds resilient communities not only through economic investment but by honoring the stories that shape them. Supporting the Orange Blossom Special mural is our way of celebrating Hamlet’s history and creating a shared place where neighbors can connect and visitors can learn.
Public art changes how people move through a place. REV’s support for the mural created a new gathering point on Main Street, a reminder that community is built not only by institutions but by the shared spaces they help sustain.
