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

Jean Laffite

Jean Laffite was a French privateer, pirate and patriot. A hero with his band of baratarians at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Reputed to have had a warehouse on Contraband Bayou and to have...

Jean Laffite was a French privateer, pirate and patriot. A hero with his band of baratarians at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Reputed to have had a warehouse on Contraband Bayou and to...

  • louisiana
  • pirate
  • war of 1812

Lagrange High School

In 1903, Mesard LaGrange donated an acre for a one-room schoolhouse at this site, and in 1913 offered to donate 9 more acres for an expansion of the school. The School Board at the time offered...

In 1903, Mesard LaGrange donated an acre for a one-room schoolhouse at this site, and in 1913 offered to donate 9 more acres for an expansion of the school. The School Board at the time...

  • louisiana

Louisiana Baptist Orphanage

Area congregations constructed a two-story orphanage in 1899 that housed up to 150 children at a time. This location was selected for the wholesome, rural character of the setting. The landmark...

Area congregations constructed a two-story orphanage in 1899 that housed up to 150 children at a time. This location was selected for the wholesome, rural character of the setting. The landmark...

  • louisiana
  • church

St. Charles Academy

The original site of St. Charles Academy was the northeast corner of Ryan and Kirby, part of the Roman Catholic complex of church, convent and school destroyed in the Great Fire of 1910. Opening...

The original site of St. Charles Academy was the northeast corner of Ryan and Kirby, part of the Roman Catholic complex of church, convent and school destroyed in the Great Fire of 1910. Opening...

  • louisiana

Barbe Pier

The pioneer Barbe family operated a public fishing pier and casino, beach and park at this site as early as the turn of the twentieth century, and after the 1918 storm, they planned and...

The pioneer Barbe family operated a public fishing pier and casino, beach and park at this site as early as the turn of the twentieth century, and after the 1918 storm, they planned and...

  • louisiana
  • lake charles

Killen Field

Louisiana High School Hall of Famer, R.S. Killen, coached from 1924-1950. In 1944, this stadium was named Killen Field in his honor. The name was revoked in 1953 due to a state law barring naming...

Louisiana High School Hall of Famer, R.S. Killen, coached from 1924-1950. In 1944, this stadium was named Killen Field in his honor. The name was revoked in 1953 due to a state law barring...

  • louisiana
  • sports

Lost Railroad Stations

At least four railroad stations were located in Lake Charles, all of which have been lost. On Railroad Avenue at Bilbo were passenger and freight stations (circa 1880) for Louisiana Western...

At least four railroad stations were located in Lake Charles, all of which have been lost. On Railroad Avenue at Bilbo were passenger and freight stations (circa 1880) for Louisiana Western...

  • louisiana

Christian Science Historical Marker

Christian Science was discovered by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866. This church is one of the many world wide branches of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston,...

Christian Science was discovered by Mary Baker Eddy in 1866. This church is one of the many world wide branches of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in...

  • religion
  • louisiana

Majestic Hotel

Bilbo at Pujo StreetOn this site stood the Majestic Hotel from 1906 to 1965. Advanced for its day, the Majestic's own water system was used to save it (and surrounding properties) during the Great...

Bilbo at Pujo StreetOn this site stood the Majestic Hotel from 1906 to 1965. Advanced for its day, the Majestic's own water system was used to save it (and surrounding properties) during the Great...

  • louisiana
  • lake charles
  • calcasieu parish
  • lost landmark

The Arcade Theatre and Miller Building, the Paramount and the Weber Building

Four important landmarks once stood here, part of an unbroken line of buildings from Railroad Avenue to Clarence Street. The Weber Building housed professional offices and was the center of...

Four important landmarks once stood here, part of an unbroken line of buildings from Railroad Avenue to Clarence Street. The Weber Building housed professional offices and was the center of...

  • louisiana

Bilbo Cemetery

Established April 8, 1840 with the burial of Margaret Bilbo. Burial site of John Jacob Ryan Jr. 1816-1899 Father of Lake Charles. Earlier site of ancient Attakapa Indian village U.S. Army Military...

Established April 8, 1840 with the burial of Margaret Bilbo. Burial site of John Jacob Ryan Jr. 1816-1899 Father of Lake Charles. Earlier site of ancient Attakapa Indian village U.S. Army...

  • louisiana
  • cemetery
  • native american

Goldband Studios

Goldband Records was founded in 1945 by Eddie Shuler to record the music of his band “The All-Star Revelers” and later to record music created by other regional musicians. The record label was...

Goldband Records was founded in 1945 by Eddie Shuler to record the music of his band “The All- Star Revelers” and later to record music created by other regional musicians. The record label...

  • louisiana
  • music
  • entertainment

Ball's Auditorium

One block from this site stood Ball's Auditorium from 1945 to 1995. Here, Reginald Ball, Sr. operated a trade school to help returning World War II African- American veterans obtain jobs through...

One block from this site stood Ball's Auditorium from 1945 to 1995. Here, Reginald Ball, Sr. operated a trade school to help returning World War II African- American veterans obtain jobs through...

  • louisiana
  • music
  • entertainment

Gerstner Field

GERSTNER FIELD First military air field in Louisiana. US Army Signal Corps began training Nov 1917. Gerstner had 24 hangars and 90 other buildings. Almost 500 fighter pilots and instructors were...

GERSTNER FIELD First military air field in Louisiana. US Army Signal Corps began training Nov 1917. Gerstner had 24 hangars and 90 other buildings. Almost 500 fighter pilots and instructors were...

  • wwi
  • lousiana
  • airplane

All Saints Episcopal Church

  Built in 1885 in Patterson, La. and originally known as Holy Trinity. Moved to present location in 1942. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its Gothic Revival architecture.

  Built in 1885 in Patterson, La. and originally known as Holy Trinity. Moved to present location in 1942. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its Gothic Revival architecture.

  • louisiana
  • church

Kansas City Southern Depot

  Built in 1923, the depot is an outstanding example of Mission Revival architecture, and is one of the most architecturally significant railroad depots in the state. Listed on National Register...

  Built in 1923, the depot is an outstanding example of Mission Revival architecture, and is one of the most architecturally significant railroad depots in the state. Listed on National Register...

  • louisiana
  • railroad

The Gary Wayne Cooper Memorial Railroad Museum Park Pavilion

The Gary Wayne Cooper Memorial Railroad Museum Park Pavilion Dedicated on April 7, 2016 For his many years of faithful service to the city and his undaunting preservation of the history of his...

The Gary Wayne Cooper Memorial Railroad Museum Park Pavilion Dedicated on April 7, 2016 For his many years of faithful service to the city and his undaunting preservation of the history of...

  • louisiana
  • railroad
  • museum
  • citizen
  • memorial

Battle of Calcasieu Pass

Near this spot Confederate soldiers under the command of Col. W.H. Griffin captured the Union gunboats Wave and Granite City in the Battle of Calcasieu Pass, Cameron, Louisiana, on May 6, 1864....

Near this spot Confederate soldiers under the command of Col. W.H. Griffin captured the Union gunboats Wave and Granite City in the Battle of Calcasieu Pass, Cameron, Louisiana, on May 6, 1864....

  • louisiana
  • civil war
  • cameron parish
  • calcasieu

Hurricane Rita

While miraculously no one in Cameron Parish was killed, 38 of it's 40 cemeteries were breached and over 340 caskets and their remains were torn from the ground and scattered into marshes, tree...

While miraculously no one in Cameron Parish was killed, 38 of it's 40 cemeteries were breached and over 340 caskets and their remains were torn from the ground and scattered into marshes, tree...

  • louisiana
  • disaster
  • cameron parish
  • hurricane rita