New mural along rail trail celebrates Waltham’s history 

A new mural celebrating Waltham’s industrial and cultural history is taking shape along the city’s rail trail.

The mural, by David O’Gara, will highlight significant moments in the city’s past.

It is one of the latest artistic contributions to Waltham’s growing outdoor art scene, bringing color and history to a popular trail used by cyclists, joggers and pedestrians alike.

O’Gara, of David O’Gara Custom Murals, has been painting custom murals for about a decade. His project is located on the side of the 118 Bacon St. building owned by Peter Ryan, a Waltham resident who hired him for the job. 

O’Gara, a Millis resident, hopes the mural will spark curiosity and help people, especially those who’ve moved to the city without knowing much about its past, learn more about Waltham’s rich history. 

“This is going to have an image of the B&M Waltham train station, an old steam locomotive and the watch factory,” he said. “I think people will see that and get interested in the history of Waltham. The watch factory, obviously, was huge for this town.”

O’Gara’s intern, Ben Hurney, is assisting on the project. The work started at the beginning of the month and is expected to continue for another month.

Much of O’Gara’s work can be found throughout Massachusetts. 

“I like the idea of it being there long after I’m gone,” O’Gara said about his inspiration for murals. “Some people might say, ‘Oh, I remember the guy who painted this.’”