Lyle Tuttle - Millerton

Lyle Tuttle was born in Millerton in 1931 and became the “granddaddy of tattoos” - one of the most famous tattoo artists in the world.

Location: west side of the “Madge’s Hambergers” building, owned by Barb Nickell-Clark, 103 Thatcher Ave, Millerton, IA 50165

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Lyle Tuttle

Lyle Tuttle was born to Howard and Opal (Castor) Tuttle in Millerton in 1931. He and his parents later moved to California, where he saw soldiers coming home from WWII with tattoos – and his inspiration was born. After a stint in the Marines, he began tattooing professionally in 1949 and opened a studio in San Francisco in the late 1950s.

Lyle tattooed some of the most famous musicians of his era, including Janis Joplin, the Allman Brothers, Cher, and more. He was photographed for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in 1970.

Lyle Tuttle in 1970

Lyle also holds the record for being the first person to tattoo someone on all seven continents after tattooing someone at a scientist’s guesthouse in Antarctica in 2014.

Lyle credited his parents with giving him “total freedom” for his art. One of the tattoos on his own body was a family crest that he created for himself – a chicken and a feather, with the motto “Chicken today, feathers tomorrow” translated into Latin.

Lyle passed away in California in 2019 at the age of 87, but he still has relatives in Wayne County.

Millerton is the smallest incorporated town in Wayne County, with a population of 36 at the 2020 census.

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about the art

This mural was painted during the Walldog Mural Festival in Wayne County, Iowa, from August 30 - September 3, 2023.

The lead designer was Dan Luckin from Chelmsford, United Kingdom. Dan is an experienced sign painter and muralist who has participated in many Walldogs events around the world. You can see his art at https://www.paintedbydan.co.uk/

FAQs

  • The Walldogs are an international group of muralists and sign-painters who volunteer their time to create community art. They have painted throughout the US and around the world.

    The Walldog movement started in Allerton, Iowa, in 1993. Local artist Nancy Bennett invited dozens of signpainters to Allerton to paint murals in Allerton’s downtown, and the local community opened their homes to host these artists. Since that first gathering, the Walldog movement has grown tremendously.

    The Walldogs celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2023 by returning to Wayne County, Iowa. They have meets planned for the next several years to continue this community art tradition. You can learn more at thewalldogs.org.

  • In 2023, the Walldogs painted 16 murals. They also painted new signage at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.

    These murals included 12 new designs, as well as 4 restorations of the original 1993 Walldog murals in Allerton.

  • We recommend starting at Prairie Trails Museum in Corydon, Iowa. The “Come, Come Ye Saints” mural recognizes the passage of the Mormon Trail through Wayne County.

    From there, you can drive in an approximate circle to Promise City, Seymour, Allerton, Clio, Lineville, Humeston, and Millerton, before returning to Corydon to see the rest of the murals there.

    Alternatively, you can start at any mural that works for your route.

    The entire route takes approximately 2 hours to drive.

  • Check our main FAQ page for more details and contact info.

Next stop

Visit Corydon to see the “Jesse James Robbery” mural.

The Jesse James Gang robbed the Ocobock Bank in Corydon in 1871. This mural features that infamous heist.

You can find the Jesse James Robbery mural on the west side of the Wayne Theatre: 110 N Franklin St, Corydon, IA 50060

Corydon is 7 miles south of Millerton on Highway 14. There are five murals in Corydon.

For the full list of murals and locations, visit this page or download the map.