Hattiesburg, Mississippi – The Spirit that Builds!

"The Spirit that Builds" is the focal point of the Hattiesburg branch of The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County.The circular mural is 10 feet high, 167 feet in circumference and is suspended 30 feet above the circulation desk.

In the center of the Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County, suspended thirty feet above the circulation desk, is a story. Not of words or voices, but a panorama of images that tell the story of a tiny logging outpost that became the growing, dynamic hub for south Mississippi.

That story is “The Spirit That Builds,” a circular mural created by William Baggett, chair and professor of Graphic Design with the University of Southern Mississippi. Ten feet in height and 167 feet in circumference, the mural flows from one era of Hattiesburg’s growth to another.

And, more than that: it captures the heart and resolve of men and women who determined to work hard and do great things for their community. It is this creative persistence that has made Hattiesburg a magnet for industry, education and healthcare.

Born in the 1880s as a rail junction and logging center, the greater Hattiesburg area has grown to more than 150,000 inhabitants. Today, “The Hub City” is home to two hospitals and various healthcare specialties; two universities, the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University; Camp Shelby, the nation’s largest state-owned military training center; and a commercial corridor that serves the needs of over a quarter of a million people.

The design of the Hattiesburg Library includes a dual spiraled staircase inspired by the entrance to the original library constructed in the early 20th century.

Even in the midst of economic downturn, “The Spirit That Builds” hasn’t abated. In Hattiesburg when times get harder, the fortitude to look ahead gets stronger. That’s why south Mississippi is proud to welcome a kindred “spirit” to our community: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Emmy-award winning hit reality show on ABC Television. Extreme Makeover and Hattiesburg share a common belief – that adversity is not the time to surrender hope, but to risk it all, work hard and rule out failure as an option. In just one week in December, Hattiesburg and Extreme Makeover will turn a hero’s dream into reality.

So, get ready – the story of “The Spirit That Builds” is about to gain another chapter.

Let our spirit build!