A new mural in Whitney Pier, N.S. is allowing both locals and tourists to take a trip down memory lane.

The artwork depicts many of the Cape Breton community’s iconic businesses from years ago and also celebrates its diverse culture. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, the West Indies, Italy and Newfoundland worked in the Sydney Steel plant in the 1900s and many settled in Whitney Pier.

“This is the history of the Pier, how it looked back in the 50s, 60s, with all the stores,” says Keith Baldwin, who created the mural. “It was a booming place. We had almost three of everything. There was lots of work at the time.”

From shoemakers, grocery stores and laundromats, to restaurants, hardware stores and bowling allies, Whitney Pier had it all – a sharp contrast to the reality of today.

Baldwin says it provides an important history lesson for the younger generation.

“They’ve never seen it, so they’re asking more questions and you fill them in and tell them what it was all about,” he says. “Their grandparents and parents used all these buildings and supported the community. Hopefully they will too.”

Standing four metres high and 15 metres wide, the mural is the first thing many people see as they come into Whitney Pier.

“To be able to see this every day as we come over the overpass into the Pier, it’s another part of the history for this community,” says Felicia Abbass. “So we think it’s fantastic to be part of it.”

The mural is the second in the community created by Baldwin. The first mural, located on the side of a discount store, depicts the former steel plant.

“It’s absolutely a trip down memory lane. It’s huge for a lot of people,” says Alan Nathanson of the Friends of Neville Park Society. “You saw a couple people come here with their cameras and iPads taking pictures, which will be sent everywhere.”

Baldwin says it took him three weeks to create the mural, but he plans to add to the artwork each week.

“To keep everyone interested. I could say ‘Guess what’s new in the painting this month?’ And people come down to try and figure out what they didn’t see last time.”

He says he may create more murals celebrating the community’s past in the future.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore