Visiting the Spider-Man Mural in Johnstown

The 49-foot wide and 28-foot-high Spider-Man mural on the side of the Stone Bridge Brewing Company in Johnstown Pennsylvania.

The Spider-Man mural in Johnstown is a tribute to Johnstown native, legendary comic-book artist, and Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko.

The Spider-Man Mural in downtown Johnstown Pennsylvania.
The Spider-Man Mural in downtown Johnstown.

A 1945 graduate of Greater Johnstown High School, Ditko studied under Batman artist Jerry Robinson at the Cartoonist and Illustrators School in New York City.

Steve Ditko graduated from Greater Johnstown High School in 1945.
Steve Ditko graduated from Greater Johnstown High School in 1945 (public domain image).

In 1954, The Thing #12 was released, Steve Ditko’s first published comic-book cover.

The Thing #12 was Steve Ditko's first published comic-book cover, coming out in 1954.
The Thing #12 was Steve Ditko’s first published comic-book cover, coming out in 1954 (public domain image).

In 1962, Ditko teamed up with famed comic book write Stan Lee to create Spider-Man, who eventually became Marvel Comics most successful character.

Close-up of Spider-Man on the mural honoring Steve Ditko in Johnstown.
Close-up of Spider-Man on the mural honoring Steve Ditko in Johnstown.

In 1963, Ditko created the character Doctor Strange, who is also featured on the mural in Johnstown.

Doctor Strange is a comic book character created by Steve Ditko and is featured on the mural as well
Doctor Strange is a comic book character created by Steve Ditko and is featured on the mural as well.

The mural itself is reportedly the only Marvel-approved piece of public art in the entire world.

My truck parked in front of the Spider-Man mural for a sense of scale.
My truck parked in front of the Spider-Man mural for a sense of scale.

The mural is composed of 50 squares of painted parachute cloth, attached to the wall with an acrylic gel adhesive, and sealed with a protective clear-coat.

A close-up of some of the detail on the Spider-Man mural in downtown Johnstown Pennsylvania.
A close-up of some of the detail on the Spider-Man mural.

At the nearby Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, Ditko is honored as well, with a display in the Children’s Museum portion of the center.

Steve Ditko is mentioned at the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center just a few minutes drive from the Spider-Man mural.
Steve Ditko is mentioned at the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, just a few minutes drive from the Spider-Man mural.

But it’s the giant mural in downtown that will wow young and old alike the most, a fitting tribute to a legendary native son.

Johnstown is the hometown of Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko.
Johnstown is the hometown of Spider-Man co-creator (along with Stan Lee) Steve Ditko.

How to Find The Spider-Man Mural in Johnstown

This 49-foot wide and 28-foot-high Spider-Man mural is located on the north side of the Stone Bridge Brewing Company, at the corner of Washington Street and Franklin Street in Johnstown.

A map to the Spider-Man mural at the corner of Washington Street and Franklin Street in Johnstown PA.
A map to the Spider-Man mural at the corner of Washington Street and Franklin Street in Johnstown.

If navigating by GPS, the street address of the brewery is 104 Franklin St, Johnstown, PA 15901.

The Spider-Man mural takes up the entire north wall of Stone Bridge Brewing Company.
The Spider-Man mural takes up the entire north wall of Stone Bridge Brewing Company.

Nearby Attractions

The Johnstown Flood Museum, located in downtown Johnstown, tells the story of the tragic May 31, 1889 flood that killed over 2,200 people and captured the attention of the entire world, arguably the most famous event to ever occur in Cambria County.

Valley of Death exhibit at the Johnstown Flood Museum.
Valley of Death exhibit at the Johnstown Flood Museum.

Through a mixture of interpretive exhibits, surviving artifacts, photographs, and an award-winning film, visitors to the Johnstown Flood Museum can get a sense not only of the causes of the flood and the devastation in wreaked, but of the recovery and rebuilding efforts as well.

Path of the Flood 3D model at the Johnstown Flood Museum in Cambria County.
Path of the Flood exhibit at the musuem.

The Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center is a museum that tells the story of the region’s iron, steel, and coal industries through the eyes of the everyday people who were the backbone of those enterprises in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Exploring the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center in Cambria County Pennsylvania.
Scenes from the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center.

George’s Song Shop in downtown Johnstown is America’s oldest record store!

George's Song Shop in Johnstown Pennsylvania is America's oldest record store.
George’s Song Shp in Johnstown.

George’s Song Shop is billed as having over one million records and CDs in stock, and I can assure you that is no idle boast.

A small sampling of the 45s at George's Song Shop.
A small sampling of the 45s at George’s Song Shop.

Hinckston Run Falls is a man-made waterfall formed by the outflow of the Hinckston Run Reservoir near Johnstown.

Hinckston Run Falls in October of 2021.
Hinckston Run Falls in October of 2021.

The Staple Bend Tunnel near Johnstown has the distinction of being the first railroad tunnel built in the United States!

The ornate western portal of the Staple Bend Tunnel.
The ornate western portal of the Staple Bend Tunnel.

14 Must-See Attractions in Cambria County is your guide to even more great things to see and do near Johnstown.

The view from the Johnstown Inclined Plane in Cambria County PA
The view from the top of the Johnstown Inclined Plane in Cambria County.

Did you enjoy this article?

If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to learn more about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!

Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.


PA Bucket List 2022 Sasquatch Logo

Pennsylvania’s Best Travel Blog!

Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.