McTell’s 12-String Strut
Painted Stella guitar replicas designed by local artists. The 12 guitars are located in downtown Thomson along Main Street and Railroad Street. The Thomson Depot display includes an audio box that gives history on the project, Blind Willie McTell and includes a sample of McTell’s music.
Location Map:
McTell’s 12-String Strut is a public art project meant to recognize and honor the legacy of Blind Willie McTell, his music and the fact that such an influential musician was born and lived in McDuffie County. Made up of 12, 7-foot-tall polyurethane replicas of the 12-string Stella guitars that McTell was known to have mastered.
Introduced in 2016 by the Thomson-McDuffie County CVB, the project was initiated after the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) presented a Tourism Product Development Report to officials and citizens of Thomson-McDuffie County. Included in the recommendations of this report were a public art component, interpretation and everyday exposure of Blind Willie McTell’s legacy, as well as supporting the annual music festival held in his honor, the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival.
