Charles M. Schulz painted this mural in 1951 for his daughter Meredith at the family’s Colorado Springs home. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are instantly recognizable, and Patty, another original Peanuts character, appears at the far left holding a balloon, alongside characters inspired by classic picture books, such as those in the popular Little Golden Books series, which Schulz would have read to young Meredith.

After the Schulzes sold their home in 1952, subsequent owners painted over the colorful characters on at least four different occasions. Polly and Stanley Travnicek purchased the home in 1979, with prior knowledge of the possible treasure lying beneath many layers of old latex.

When Polly Travnicek learned from Schulz that he created the mural with oil paints, she bought cans of sanding liquid and mountains of cotton balls and set to work. Travnicek worked on the 96-square-foot wall one inch at a time, and remembers the three-month-long chore fondly:

“I was so happy. For weeks, I’d rub and say, ‘Where is Charlie Brown? Where is Charlie Brown? I know he’s here somewhere.’ And, finally, there he was!”

For years, the Travniceks preserved and shared their treasure with family, friends, and tour groups. After they learned of Schulz’s impending retirement, the Travniceks decided to share the mural with the world by donating it to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center for permanent display, opening in 2002.

The wall was removed from the Travniceks’ home in September 2001 and transported to Santa Rosa in a temperature-controlled truck. Upon the wall’s safe arrival, conservators prepared the mural for permanent exhibition by carefully cleaning it and filling in nearly fifty years’ worth of nicks and scratches.

This stunning example of Schulz’s art in his formative years is one of the Museum’s most cherished donations.