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

Community Centre 55

This was the site of East Toronto Town Hall built in 1888. East Toronto was annexed to the City in 1909 and in 1911 the hall was replaced by Police Station No.10, later renamed No.55. Designed by...

This was the site of East Toronto Town Hall built in 1888. East Toronto was annexed to the City in 1909 and in 1911 the hall was replaced by Police Station No.10, later renamed No.55. Designed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Corporal Frederick George Topham, V.C. 1917-1974

Born in Toronto, Topham was educated here before working in the mines at Kirkland Lake. He enlisted on August 3, 1942, and served at home and abroad as a medical orderly. On March 24, 1945, while...

Born in Toronto, Topham was educated here before working in the mines at Kirkland Lake. He enlisted on August 3, 1942, and served at home and abroad as a medical orderly. On March 24, 1945,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Chapel of St. James- The-Less

In its vigorous, harmonious composition, this small funeral chapel is a splendid example of High Victorian Gothic design. Its sense of strength and spirituality is derived from the subtle contrast...

In its vigorous, harmonious composition, this small funeral chapel is a splendid example of High Victorian Gothic design. Its sense of strength and spirituality is derived from the subtle...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canada vs Russia

All was again right with the world.What had happened three nights earlier, when a team of National Hockey League all-stars lost to the best of the Soviet Union 7-3 at the Montreal Forum in the...

All was again right with the world.What had happened three nights earlier, when a team of National Hockey League all-stars lost to the best of the Soviet Union 7-3 at the Montreal Forum in the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canada's First Air Mail

At 10:12 a.m. on June 24, 1918, Captain Brian Peck of the Royal Air Force and mechanic Corporal C.W. Mathers took off from the Bois Franc Polo Grounds in Montreal in a JN-4 Curtiss two-seater...

At 10:12 a.m. on June 24, 1918, Captain Brian Peck of the Royal Air Force and mechanic Corporal C.W. Mathers took off from the Bois Franc Polo Grounds in Montreal in a JN-4 Curtiss two-seater...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The College Gates

These wrought iron lock-up gates were purchased by the College in 1888 for the main entrance to its newly constructed offices at 371 Bay Street, located on the south east corner of Bay and...

These wrought iron lock-up gates were purchased by the College in 1888 for the main entrance to its newly constructed offices at 371 Bay Street, located on the south east corner of Bay...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canada's First Electric Telegraph

19 December 1846 marked the inauguration of the telegraph in Canada. This major development in communications was pioneered by the Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company...

19 December 1846 marked the inauguration of the telegraph in Canada. This major development in communications was pioneered by the Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara Electro-Magnetic Telegraph Company...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Cliff Lumsdon Park

Cliff Lumsdon was born April 13, 1931. By the age of eighteen, he had earned international acclaim for long distance swimming, winning the first of his four World Championships. Seven years later,...

Cliff Lumsdon was born April 13, 1931. By the age of eighteen, he had earned international acclaim for long distance swimming, winning the first of his four World Championships. Seven years...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Cathedral Church of St. James

In 1796 the first Anglican priest arrived from England to minister to the citizens of York. The following year the Province set aside this piece of land for the building of a church. The present...

In 1796 the first Anglican priest arrived from England to minister to the citizens of York. The following year the Province set aside this piece of land for the building of a church. The...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canadian International Air Show

Human fascination with flight has made air shows popular since the early days of aviation. Toronto was the site of numerous air shows as it developed into a centre of air transportation and...

Human fascination with flight has made air shows popular since the early days of aviation. Toronto was the site of numerous air shows as it developed into a centre of air transportation and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Crosse & Blackwell Building

Established in London, England, in the early 18th century, Crosse and Blackwell Ltd., manufacturers of food products, built this factory and office in 1927, to a design by Chapman and Oxley,...

Established in London, England, in the early 18th century, Crosse and Blackwell Ltd., manufacturers of food products, built this factory and office in 1927, to a design by Chapman and Oxley,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Casa Loma and the Pellatts

Of all the grand houses ever built on this escarpment, Casa Loma is the grandest. Meaning "House (on the) Hill", it was the romantic vision of the industrialist Sir Henry Pellatt (1859-1939)....

Of all the grand houses ever built on this escarpment, Casa Loma is the grandest. Meaning "House (on the) Hill", it was the romantic vision of the industrialist Sir Henry Pellatt (1859-1939)....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Crossing of Lake Ontario by Marilyn Bell

On the evening of September 9, 1954, 16-year-old marathon swimmer Marilyn Bell became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. Racing unofficially against the heavily favoured American...

On the evening of September 9, 1954, 16-year-old marathon swimmer Marilyn Bell became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. Racing unofficially against the heavily favoured...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Coliseum Complex, Exhibition Place

The Coliseum, erected to showcase the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the agricultural programs of the Canadian National Exhibition, opened in 1922. With additions made in 1926, the complex...

The Coliseum, erected to showcase the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the agricultural programs of the Canadian National Exhibition, opened in 1922. With additions made in 1926, the complex...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canadian Northern Railway Eastern Lines Locomotive Shop

The Canadian Northern Railway Eastern Lines Locomotive Shop is the largest surviving structure of the former Leaside Terminal. Completed in 1919, the Locomotive Shop's symmetrical features, tall...

The Canadian Northern Railway Eastern Lines Locomotive Shop is the largest surviving structure of the former Leaside Terminal. Completed in 1919, the Locomotive Shop's symmetrical features,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Colonnade

His worship the late Donald Summerville, Mayor of Toronto officially opened the Colonnade on October 16th, 1963 with these words.: "A creative and imaginative answer to the pressing problems of...

His worship the late Donald Summerville, Mayor of Toronto officially opened the Colonnade on October 16th, 1963 with these words.: "A creative and imaginative answer to the pressing problems...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Christie's Methodist Cemetery

Issac Christie and his wife, Isabella Graeme, came to Scarborough from Armagh, Ireland, and in 1836 purchased 40 hectares of Clergy Reserve land in Lot 33, Con. IV. This land had been rented and...

Issac Christie and his wife, Isabella Graeme, came to Scarborough from Armagh, Ireland, and in 1836 purchased 40 hectares of Clergy Reserve land in Lot 33, Con. IV. This land had been rented...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

City of Toronto Archives

Appointed City Archivist in 1960, Robert Woadden (1922-2010) transformed the attic of Old City Hall into the first municipal archives in English-speaking Canada. Before then, thousands of...

Appointed City Archivist in 1960, Robert Woadden (1922-2010) transformed the attic of Old City Hall into the first municipal archives in English- speaking Canada. Before then, thousands...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canadian Bank of Commerce

Once dominating the Toronto skyline, the Canadian Bank of Commerce building was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth for three decades. Rising to 34 storeys, it was designed by the...

Once dominating the Toronto skyline, the Canadian Bank of Commerce building was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth for three decades. Rising to 34 storeys, it was designed by...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Centennial Methodist Church 1906

This Neo-Gothic inspired church replaced an earlier Centennial Methodist Church built on this site in 1891. Notable design elements include decorative stone trim, three central Tudor-arch windows,...

This Neo-Gothic inspired church replaced an earlier Centennial Methodist Church built on this site in 1891. Notable design elements include decorative stone trim, three central Tudor-arch windows,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown