John Mereness - Realtor - Coldwell Banker Realty

02/03/2026

11/16/2024

Happy birthday, John A. Ruthven! Today marks 100 years since Ruthven was born on November 12, 1924. Dubbed the 20th Century Audubon, this wildlife artist and conservationist lives on in Cincinnati through ArtWorks' mural "Martha, the Last Passanger Pidgeon," a large-scale reproduction of Ruthven's masterpiece.

Martha lived out her last days at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Despite efforts to save what was once the most numerous bird species in America, she died in 1914. Cincinnati remains committed to wildlife preservation thanks to local organizations like the zoo, Cincinnati Nature Center, and Ruthven.

This mural shows Martha and her flock soaring over the historic Bird Run at the Cincinnati Zoo, and serves as a daily reminder to downtown residents, workers and visitors of the importance of wildlife conservation and the reality of extinction.

Located at 15 E. Eighth St.
Created in partnership with the Cincinnati Nature Center