John Lennon Wall

I see plenty of cement walls covered with graffiti in Lowell, but this colorful wall holds a greater significance. After John Lennon was murdered in 1980, an unknown artist painted an image of his face and a few song lyrics on a wall in Prague. Overtime, political messages were added to the wall, many having to do with anticommunism. Authorities would cover the wall with white paint, only to find that the graffiti returned the following day.

During the time of communism, speaking out against the government was forbidden and graffiti was a form of political protest. John Lennon stood for peace and artistic freedom. Writing on the wall helped the people express their sadness for his death and also their yearning be free from communist control.

The wall became a universal symbol of peace and love after the fall of communism in 1989 - a representation of freedom. Today, the Czech Republic is a free country. It’s encouraged to come to this wall that has been dedicated to the former Beatle and leave behind your own positive message. What’s cool about this wall is there are so many people that come to put their stamp on it, that you may visit it 3 years later and the wall could look completely different than it did when you first saw it. It’s like it’s constantly evolving.

Don’t do what I did - Remember to bring a marker or paint of some sort! We forgot so we couldn’t add to the wall but we did snag a couple pictures standing in front of it. Be sure to pop in to the John Lennon Pub for a beer, only a minute’s walk from the wall.

Tip: hit this place up early in the morning to avoid crowds and to catch the best glimpse of the artwork. The wall definitely yields a lot of foot traffic.