The Sioux City Public Museum proudly presents its latest exhibit showcasing Uncle John’s Ceiling Mural, by Paul Chelstad. For the first time, visitors have the rare opportunity to experience the full mural up close, removed from its original ceiling setting and displayed in its entirety in the Museum’s gallery.

“This is not just a tribute to music history — it’s a tribute to Sioux City’s rich cultural past,” said Museum Director Steve Hansen. “We’re thrilled to share this iconic piece of local art with the community.”

For over 30 years, Uncle John Records and Tapes stood as Sioux City’s premier independent record store. Founded in 1972 by friends Mike Duncan and Bob Smith, the original shop was located at 1418 West 3rd Street and became a cultural touchstone for generations of music lovers.

In 1978 Duncan commissioned local artist Paul Chelstad to paint a large ceiling mural for Uncle John’s that depicted the entire history of recorded music from Thomas Edison’s invention of the phonograph in 1877 up through the rock heroes of the late-1970s.

The jazz-era section features:

• Paul Whitman’s Orchestra

• Glenn Miller’s Orchestra

• Billie Holiday

• Fats Waller

• Sammy Kaye’s Orchestra

• Gene Krupa

• Frank Sinatra

• Lionel Hampton

• Buddy Rich

• Charlie Parker

• Miles Davis

• …and numerous other jazz legends

The rock-era portion includes:

• Elvis Presley

• Ray Charles

• Bob Dylan

• The Beatles

• The Supremes

• The Rolling Stones

• The Who

• Jefferson Airplane

• Jimi Hendrix

• Stevie Wonder

• Janis Joplin

• Neil Young

• Lou Reed

• Bette Midler

• Patti Smith

• Kiss

• Blondie

• David Bowie

• Brian Eno

• Sioux City’s Velaires (the only local group to reach the Billboard chart)

• Mike Duncan himself playing upright bass.

Uncle John’s Ceiling Mural is on display June 6 through October 5.