“Pictou County Tourist Association Invites You To ‘Stay Another Day’”

This 1988 vintage map is a richly detailed artifact that blends Pictou County Geography with local pride and promotional flair. The map was created for the Pictou County Research and Development Commission and available to residents throughout the area during the late eighties.

The map captures the county’s urban and rural layout during the late 20th century, offering a snapshot of how communities, infrastructure, and businesses were represented at the time.

• The map includes inset street maps of the five towns: Pictou, Westville, Stellarton, New Glasgow, and Trenton. Each inset also shows detailed street grids, helping users navigate the urban cores.
• The main map displays roads, highways, railways, rivers, and communities across the county. Blue and brown tones are used to distinguish water features and landforms, with clear labeling of communities and transportation routes.
• A street index on the right side lists street names for the five towns, making it easy to locate addresses and plan routes.
• The borders of the map are lined with advertisements from local businesses and services, reflecting the economic and cultural landscape of the time. These ads not only funded the map’s production but also serve as a time capsule of the county’s commercial life in 1988.

This map reflects a transitional moment in Pictou County’s development, when print maps were still essential tools for navigation, and local businesses used them to reach residents and tourists alike. It offers insights into urban growth, transportation patterns, and the branding of community identity during the late 1980s.

The digital version of this map has been made available by the Nova Scotia Archives, see below to browse the map, or how to get a copy.