Despite fires in 1917, 1919, and 1920 and multiple floods over the years, downtown Mullens has changed very little since the town was incorporated in 1912. About 38 acres of the downtown area were included in the Mullens Historic District in 1993 to preserve the town's history and historic buildings. The district contains 96 buildings and structures that reflect the town's story, mostly commercial buildings in the central business district along with some residential properties on Lusk and Highland Avenues. The homes range from simple one- or two-story houses with gabled roofs to more elaborate two-story homes, while the commercial buildings are mostly two-story brick or stone-sided buildings with simple window design. Mullens is also home to several murals depicting the town's history by William “Sarge” McGhee, whose family settled there during the Great Depression. As a child, McGhee heard railroad stories from hobos fed by his mother, and they taught him to sketch, a talent he developed over the years. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, he returned to Mullens and worked for the railroad.