Blog
Wells Fargo Tower View (Series)
Since arriving to Roanoke in May of 2024, I’ve finally managed to orient myself to the Roanoke landscape. The majesty of the surrounding mountains are inescapable and will often be what people say is their favorite feature of being in the valley. As I drive around the town (and even surrounding mountains), the one building that tells you that you’re looking at Roanoke is the iconic Wells Fargo Tower. Changing its name for each bank that has owned it in the past 35 years, it has been the Dominion Tower, First Union Tower and Wachovia Tower.
It’s almost harder to not get a view of downtown Roanoke without the tower in it, unless you take the view from inside. Towering above all other buildings, it’s 21st floor (labeled the “22nd floor” due to its inhabitants acute case of triskaidekaphobia) is a lovely place to start. These are my oil pastels drawings of the views from 22nd floor of the Wells Fargo Tower.
Originals and prints available. Contact for prices
Originals are 24" x 36" Oil Pastel on Paper
Looking to the North, you can see the Hotel Roanoke,the Basilica of Saint Andrew, as well as Tinker Mountain, Read Mountain and the Appalachian trail as it moves across the Tinker Cliffs.
To the east are the Taubman museum, Williamson Road Bridge, 220/581 Bridge, and the Roanoke Railyard Shops. Off in the distance are the mountains near Big Bear Run, Jeters Chapel Road and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The south view follows Jefferson Street. There is the old Colonial American Bank building (now the Atlantic Union Bank), The First National Exchange building (reopening in 2026 as The Exchange), Carillion Adminstrative building, Mast General Store, and The Patrick Henry. In the distance are The Carilion Memorial Hospital, Chesnut Ridge, the Cahas Mountain near Boones Mill, Mason’s Knob and more Blue Ridge Parkway!
The west view has the Amtrak platform, the Transportation Museum, Coca-Cola bottling, and the Western Roanoke Railyard. There’s the Gainsboro Bridge, 5th Street Bridge and the 10th street bridge. In the distance is the town of Salem and the Cherokee Hills ridgeline and Big Bear Rock Gap.
Process Pictures
North View
South View
West View