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

St. Joseph's, Leslieville, 1878

From the 1830's priests from downtown Toronto began to visit Leslieville, an area of market gardens and brickyards, to administer the sacraments to Catholics living in the east end of the city. In...

From the 1830's priests from downtown Toronto began to visit Leslieville, an area of market gardens and brickyards, to administer the sacraments to Catholics living in the east end of the city. In...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Michael's Hospital

First established in 1892 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Hospital is dedicated to the care and cure of the sick within and beyond the bounds of the City of Toronto.The surrounding masonry has...

First established in 1892 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Hospital is dedicated to the care and cure of the sick within and beyond the bounds of the City of Toronto.The surrounding masonry...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew's Church

St. Andrew's was begun in 1874 to serve a Church of Scotland congregation organized in 1830. An outstanding example of Romanesque Revival architecture, this massive church was designed by William...

St. Andrew's was begun in 1874 to serve a Church of Scotland congregation organized in 1830. An outstanding example of Romanesque Revival architecture, this massive church was designed by William...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Soldiers' Tower

The Soldiers' Tower is the University of Toronto's war memorial. A few months after the Armistice ended the First World War on 11 November 1918, the University of Toronto Alumni Association began...

The Soldiers' Tower is the University of Toronto's war memorial. A few months after the Armistice ended the First World War on 11 November 1918, the University of Toronto Alumni Association...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew's Church

In 1817 the Rev. William Jenkins, a native of Kirriemuir, Scotland, a missionary to the Oneida Indians of New York, came to Canada in response to the plea of inhabitants of Scarborough, Markham...

In 1817 the Rev. William Jenkins, a native of Kirriemuir, Scotland, a missionary to the Oneida Indians of New York, came to Canada in response to the plea of inhabitants of Scarborough,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Standard Woollen Mills Building

This former industrial building was constructed in phases over two decades as Standard Woollen Mills expanded its operations. The earliest portion, constructed in 1882 and distinguished by its...

This former industrial building was constructed in phases over two decades as Standard Woollen Mills expanded its operations. The earliest portion, constructed in 1882 and distinguished by its...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Silverthorns

In 1700, Oliver Silverthorn left Yorkshire, England for New Jersey, then went to Niagara before settling in Etobicoke. He bought 200 ha on both sides of the Etobicoke River and ran a mill. His son...

In 1700, Oliver Silverthorn left Yorkshire, England for New Jersey, then went to Niagara before settling in Etobicoke. He bought 200 ha on both sides of the Etobicoke River and ran a mill. His son...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Anne's Church

St. Anne's vibrant wall paintings make this church a place of national historic significance. They were executed in 1923 by ten Toronto artists, including J.E.H. MacDonald, F. Varley and F....

St. Anne's vibrant wall paintings make this church a place of national historic significance. They were executed in 1923 by ten Toronto artists, including J.E.H. MacDonald, F. Varley and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Scarboro' Centennial Memorial Library

Scarborough's first public library, the Scarborough subscription library, was organized at a meeting at St. Andrew's Church on April 7th, 1834, with forty-six members paying a fee of five...

Scarborough's first public library, the Scarborough subscription library, was organized at a meeting at St. Andrew's Church on April 7th, 1834, with forty-six members paying a fee of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Paul's Church, L'Amoreaux

St. Paul's Church, L'Amoreaux1840-1935 In 1808 Josue L'Amoreaux, a Loyalist of Huguenot descent who had fled from New York to New Brunswick at the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783,...

St. Paul's Church, L'Amoreaux1840-1935 In 1808 Josue L'Amoreaux, a Loyalist of Huguenot descent who had fled from New York to New Brunswick at the end of the American Revolutionary War in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Lawrence Hall 1850

Erected in 1850 this structure provided a grand public hall in the St. Lawrence market-place, then the centre of Toronto, for concerts, balls, meetings and other civic events. Seating a thousand,...

Erected in 1850 this structure provided a grand public hall in the St. Lawrence market-place, then the centre of Toronto, for concerts, balls, meetings and other civic events. Seating a thousand,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Paul's Basilica

In 1822 St. Paul's was established as the first Roman Catholic Parish between Kingston and Windsor. The first Church, built of red brick, was opened on this site in 1824. The land to the East of...

In 1822 St. Paul's was established as the first Roman Catholic Parish between Kingston and Windsor. The first Church, built of red brick, was opened on this site in 1824. The land to the East of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews

"Be of good courage boys, I am not ashamed of anything I've done, I trust in God, and I'm going to die like a man." - - Samuel Lount. On April 24, 1824 the cornerstone of York's second jail was...

"Be of good courage boys, I am not ashamed of anything I've done, I trust in God, and I'm going to die like a man." - - Samuel Lount. On April 24, 1824 the cornerstone of York's second jail...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Lawrence Market

In 1803, Lieutenant Governor Peter Hunter established a public marketplace here where farmers from nearby townships sold produce and livestock to residents of the town of York (now Toronto). A...

In 1803, Lieutenant Governor Peter Hunter established a public marketplace here where farmers from nearby townships sold produce and livestock to residents of the town of York (now Toronto). A...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Strachan Avenue Military Burying Ground

Strachan Avenue Military Burying Ground, the third cemetery associated with Fort York, was used by the soldiers and families of the Toronto Garrison from 1864 until 1911. The first cemetery,...

Strachan Avenue Military Burying Ground, the third cemetery associated with Fort York, was used by the soldiers and families of the Toronto Garrison from 1864 until 1911. The first cemetery,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Scadding Cabin, 1794

Near here, on the east bank of the Don River, John Scadding built a log cabin establishing his claim to lot 15, stretching from Lake Ontario north to present day Danforth Avenue. Scadding was...

Near here, on the east bank of the Don River, John Scadding built a log cabin establishing his claim to lot 15, stretching from Lake Ontario north to present day Danforth Avenue. Scadding was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew By-The- Lake

After the Toronto Island parish was established in 1875 Bishop Arthur Sweatman was the prime mover in the building of this Anglican church. Designed by Arthur R. Denison, architect, the Early...

After the Toronto Island parish was established in 1875 Bishop Arthur Sweatman was the prime mover in the building of this Anglican church. Designed by Arthur R. Denison, architect, the Early...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Henry Mill Pellatt 1859-1939

At the peak of his dramatic career, Sir Henry Mill Pellatt was one of Canada's most powerful businessmen. An ambitious financier who became wealthy through bold investments in electricity, real...

At the peak of his dramatic career, Sir Henry Mill Pellatt was one of Canada's most powerful businessmen. An ambitious financier who became wealthy through bold investments in electricity, real...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Straightening of the Don River

The lower Don River used to meander through woods and marshes before discharging into both Toronto harbour and Ashbridge's Bay Marsh, one of the Great Lakes' largest coastal wetlands. As the city...

The lower Don River used to meander through woods and marshes before discharging into both Toronto harbour and Ashbridge's Bay Marsh, one of the Great Lakes' largest coastal wetlands. As the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Site of Toronto's First Moving Picture Show

On August 31, 1896, a series of films running less than a minute each was projected from a "Vitascope" invented by Thomas Edison at Robinson's Musee Theatre on this site. On the next day, the...

On August 31, 1896, a series of films running less than a minute each was projected from a "Vitascope" invented by Thomas Edison at Robinson's Musee Theatre on this site. On the next day, the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown
  • edison