A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.

The Underground Railroad

Vandalia, prior to the Civil War, was the junction of two important “lines” of the “Underground Railroad.” Slaves fleeing through Indiana and Illinois came to Cass County, where Quakers and others...

Vandalia, prior to the Civil War, was the junction of two important “lines” of the “Underground Railroad.” Slaves fleeing through Indiana and Illinois came to Cass County, where Quakers and others...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Omer Masonic Hall

This church-like white frame structure with its graceful cupola was built in 1890 as the second Arenac County Courthouse. The first courthouse on this site burned the previous year. Omer had been...

This church-like white frame structure with its graceful cupola was built in 1890 as the second Arenac County Courthouse. The first courthouse on this site burned the previous year. Omer had...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

First Presbyterian Church

The Reverend Charles G. Clarke of Washtenaw County led eleven people in organizing the First Presbyterian Church in Unadilla on February 4, 1837. It was the township’s first religious society. The...

The Reverend Charles G. Clarke of Washtenaw County led eleven people in organizing the First Presbyterian Church in Unadilla on February 4, 1837. It was the township’s first religious society. The...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Thompson / Christmas Tree Ship

The Delta Lumber Company of Detroit, headed by E. L. Thompson, platted the village of Thompson in 1888. Seven different lumber companies ran the mill in the village. By 1907 the population had...

The Delta Lumber Company of Detroit, headed by E. L. Thompson, platted the village of Thompson in 1888. Seven different lumber companies ran the mill in the village. By 1907 the population...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Council Point / Pontiac's Council

On April 27, 1763, Obwandiyag, an Odawa who was also called Pontiac, assembled a council of warriors from various tribes near this site. He urged them to fight to maintain control of their land...

On April 27, 1763, Obwandiyag, an Odawa who was also called Pontiac, assembled a council of warriors from various tribes near this site. He urged them to fight to maintain control of their land...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Fort St. Joseph

Built near here in 1686 by the French explorer Duluth, this fort was the second white settlement in lower Michigan. This post guarded the upper end of the vital waterway joining Lake Erie and Lake...

Built near here in 1686 by the French explorer Duluth, this fort was the second white settlement in lower Michigan. This post guarded the upper end of the vital waterway joining Lake Erie and...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

George Armstrong Custer / "Sighting the Enemy"

Raised in Monroe, George Armstrong Custer graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1861. In 1863 he became a brigadier general and commanded the Michigan Cavalry...

Raised in Monroe, George Armstrong Custer graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1861. In 1863 he became a brigadier general and commanded the Michigan Cavalry...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Sport

The tug Sport, one of the nation’s earliest steel-hulled vessels, was built for lumber and steel entrepreneur Eber Brock Ward in 1873 by the Wyandotte Iron Ship Building Works in Wyandotte,...

The tug Sport, one of the nation’s earliest steel- hulled vessels, was built for lumber and steel entrepreneur Eber Brock Ward in 1873 by the Wyandotte Iron Ship Building Works in...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...
  • underwater

Theodore H. Roethke Childhood Home / Theodore H. Roethke

Distinguished poet Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) was born in Saginaw and grew up in this house. The house was built around 1911 for his parents, Otto and Helen Roethke. Otto’s brother Carl lived in...

Distinguished poet Theodore Roethke (1908-1963) was born in Saginaw and grew up in this house. The house was built around 1911 for his parents, Otto and Helen Roethke. Otto’s brother Carl lived...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Pioneer House

The Pioneer House opened in the early 1870s as a boardinghouse for lumbermen. Beginning as a 1 ½ -story building, it underwent three major renovations between 1885 and 1936 evolving into a hotel...

The Pioneer House opened in the early 1870s as a boardinghouse for lumbermen. Beginning as a 1 ½ -story building, it underwent three major renovations between 1885 and 1936 evolving into a hotel...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

The Northernmost Point of Lake Michigan

About a mile west of here is the northernmost point of Lake Michigan. This geographical location is of historical importance because the act of Congress which created the territory of Michigan in...

About a mile west of here is the northernmost point of Lake Michigan. This geographical location is of historical importance because the act of Congress which created the territory of Michigan in...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Howell Carnegie Library / Howell Carnegie Library

The Howell library originated as the Ladies Library Association in 1875. That year, the ladies began offering books for lending. The need for spacious, permanent quarters grew, and in 1902, for...

The Howell library originated as the Ladies Library Association in 1875. That year, the ladies began offering books for lending. The need for spacious, permanent quarters grew, and in 1902, for...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

First State Prison

This was the original site of Michigan’s first state prison, approved by the legislature in 1838. A temporary wooden prison, enclosed by a fence of tamarack poles, was built on sixty acres donated...

This was the original site of Michigan’s first state prison, approved by the legislature in 1838. A temporary wooden prison, enclosed by a fence of tamarack poles, was built on sixty acres...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Michigan School for the Blind / Administration Building

Michigan began educating the blind in 1859 at Flint’s Michigan Asylum. In 1879 the legislature established the Michigan School for the Blind, which opened here on September 29, 1880, with...

Michigan began educating the blind in 1859 at Flint’s Michigan Asylum. In 1879 the legislature established the Michigan School for the Blind, which opened here on September 29, 1880,...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Mount Hope Cemetery

Mount Hope Cemetery opened as Lansing's new city cemetery in June 1874 on what was formerly the John Miller Farm. Between 1874 and 1881 the city vacated the Lansing City Cemetery, located on the...

Mount Hope Cemetery opened as Lansing's new city cemetery in June 1874 on what was formerly the John Miller Farm. Between 1874 and 1881 the city vacated the Lansing City Cemetery, located on...

  • michigan
  • michigan his...

Oak Grove Cemetery (Dixboro)

Oak Grove Cemetery   The Village of Dixboro was primarily a farming community, revolving around the mills located on Fleming Creek.  It remained that way until 1925 when Plymouth Road was...

Oak Grove Cemetery   The Village of Dixboro was primarily a farming community, revolving around the mills located on Fleming Creek.  It remained that way until 1925 when Plymouth Road...

    Dixboro United Methodist Church

    Dixboro United Methodist Church   In its earliest years, the Village of Dixboro was served by "circuit-riding" preachers.  The infrequency of these visits and the "occurrence of carousing in the...

    Dixboro United Methodist Church   In its earliest years, the Village of Dixboro was served by "circuit-riding" preachers.  The infrequency of these visits and the "occurrence of carousing in the...

      Dixboro School

      Dixboro School   Constructed in 1888, the Dixboro School was part of Superior Township School District No. 2.  It stands on land set aside in the original village plat of 1826 as "a public square...

      Dixboro School   Constructed in 1888, the Dixboro School was part of Superior Township School District No. 2.  It stands on land set aside in the original village plat of 1826 as "a public square...

        Roland Hemond Meritorious Service Award

        Roland Hemond has served professional baseball for over 50 years. Won the prestigious major league baseball Executive of the Year award three times during his career and regarded as the original...

        Roland Hemond has served professional baseball for over 50 years. Won the prestigious major league baseball Executive of the Year award three times during his career and regarded as the...

        • giants
        • baseball
        • fall league

        Site of the San Remo Café

        Site of the San Remo Café (1925 - 1967)In its post-war heyday, the San Remo was a meeting place for an unparalleled array of figures from the Beat movement, the New York School of poets and...

        Site of the San Remo Café (1925 - 1967)In its post-war heyday, the San Remo was a meeting place for an unparalleled array of figures from the Beat movement, the New York School of poets...

        • san remo café
        • macdougal street
        • greenwich village
        • south villag...
        • nyc
        • new york city
        • allen ginsberg
        • dylan thomas
        • jack kerouac
        • william s. burroughs
        • miles davis
        • frank o’hara
        • judith malina
        • jackson pollock
        • james baldwin
        • tennessee williams
        • gore vidal
        • james agee
        • william styron
        • john cage
        • merce cunningham
        • larry rivers
        • the beat movement
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        • the living theater
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        • 20th century...