A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
Explore the 20,000+ worldwide plaques on the Big Map big map screenshot
The most recent plaques:

Mullins United Methodist Church

Mullins United Methodist Church, named for its first minister, the Reverend Lorenzo Dow Mullins, was established July 15, 1845, in a one room log structure on this site. Federal troops dismantled...

Mullins United Methodist Church, named for its first minister, the Reverend Lorenzo Dow Mullins, was established July 15, 1845, in a one room log structure on this site. Federal troops...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church

Mt. Moriah was founded in 1879. The oldest church in the area, it was relocated to this site in 1883, predating the Orange Mound Community by seven years. A vernacular-sandstone building, the...

Mt. Moriah was founded in 1879. The oldest church in the area, it was relocated to this site in 1883, predating the Orange Mound Community by seven years. A vernacular-sandstone building,...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Millington Central High School

Soon after Millington was founded in the 1870's, a reading school was established in a wood-frame structure on this site by the Shelby County Board of Education. In the 1890's the school was...

Soon after Millington was founded in the 1870's, a reading school was established in a wood-frame structure on this site by the Shelby County Board of Education. In the 1890's the school...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Nashoba

To the south lay this plantation. Here, in 1827, a Scottish spinster heiress named Frances Wright set up a colony whose aims were the enforcement of cooperative living and other advanced...

To the south lay this plantation. Here, in 1827, a Scottish spinster heiress named Frances Wright set up a colony whose aims were the enforcement of cooperative living and other advanced...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

McGinnis Park Established 1998

McGinnis Park is dedicated to the memory of Wiley Washington McGinnis (1875-1959), who first landscaped Collierville Square. The park and streets of the 443-acre Schilling Farms development are...

McGinnis Park is dedicated to the memory of Wiley Washington McGinnis (1875-1959), who first landscaped Collierville Square. The park and streets of the 443-acre Schilling Farms development are...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Memphis Charleston Railroad - Collierville

The Federal troops quickly understood the importance of taking control of railroads and by May 1862 the US Government held the Memphis & Charleston Railroad with few exceptions until the end of...

The Federal troops quickly understood the importance of taking control of railroads and by May 1862 the US Government held the Memphis & Charleston Railroad with few exceptions until the end of...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Leake Irby July 21, 1866-July 21, 2006

History Of The Collierville Town Square In July of 1866, Collierville, like much of the South, was beginning to recover from the ravages of war. Three years earlier, "Mister Collier's Village"...

History Of The Collierville Town Square In July of 1866, Collierville, like much of the South, was beginning to recover from the ravages of war. Three years earlier, "Mister Collier's...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

John James Audubon

On Friday, December 1, 1820, this naturalist and artist landed nearby, on his way by flatboat from Cincinnati to New Orleans. He kept a diary and sketched animals and birds seen en route. Near...

On Friday, December 1, 1820, this naturalist and artist landed nearby, on his way by flatboat from Cincinnati to New Orleans. He kept a diary and sketched animals and birds seen en route....

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Lansky Brothers Clothier to the King

Lansky Brothers was founded in 1946 by Bernard and Guy Lansky with a $125 investment from their father, S.L. Lansky. The store began at 126 Beale Street as an army surplus store, but gradually...

Lansky Brothers was founded in 1946 by Bernard and Guy Lansky with a $125 investment from their father, S.L. Lansky. The store began at 126 Beale Street as an army surplus store, but...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Masonic Lodge # 95

The Masonic Lodge #95 was organized on April 7, 1841, with Joseph Cotton as Worshipful Master. During the Civil War, when federal forces occupied Germantown, the lodge, as well as the Germantown...

The Masonic Lodge #95 was organized on April 7, 1841, with Joseph Cotton as Worshipful Master. During the Civil War, when federal forces occupied Germantown, the lodge, as well as the...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Maxwelton (Circa 1855-1860)

Judge John Louis Taylor Sneed (1820-1901) named this house which is built of native poplar and cypress. Only a few of this "Victorian piano-box" style, more common to middle-Tennessee, survive....

Judge John Louis Taylor Sneed (1820-1901) named this house which is built of native poplar and cypress. Only a few of this "Victorian piano-box" style, more common to middle-Tennessee,...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

M E. Church South

Founded in 1840 on McVay Road near the cemetery, Germantown Methodist Church burned during the Civil War. The second church building was struck by lightning and also burned. In 1929, the church...

Founded in 1840 on McVay Road near the cemetery, Germantown Methodist Church burned during the Civil War. The second church building was struck by lightning and also burned. In 1929, the...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Mary Alice Park

Mary Alice Park Established 2006 The Town of Arlington welcomes you to Mary Alice Park, formerly the home of Arlington Blending & Packaging Company, a pesticide formulating and packaging facility...

Mary Alice Park Established 2006 The Town of Arlington welcomes you to Mary Alice Park, formerly the home of Arlington Blending & Packaging Company, a pesticide formulating and packaging facility...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

First Holiday Inn

The world's first Holiday Inn was opened on this site August 1, 1952 by Memphis entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson as a result of his unsatisfactory lodging experiences on a vacation the prior summer...

The world's first Holiday Inn was opened on this site August 1, 1952 by Memphis entrepreneur Kemmons Wilson as a result of his unsatisfactory lodging experiences on a vacation the prior...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Ellen Davies-Rodgers 1903-1994

Born Frances Ellen Davies, Mrs. Davies-Rodgers was teacher, school administrator, Shelby County Historian for 30 years, genealogist, author of 10 books (focusing mainly on the Brunswick area and...

Born Frances Ellen Davies, Mrs. Davies-Rodgers was teacher, school administrator, Shelby County Historian for 30 years, genealogist, author of 10 books (focusing mainly on the Brunswick area...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Edward Shaw

In 1870, Edward Shaw became the first Memphis black to run for U.S. Congress. Though he did not win, he was active in politics, serving on the County Commission, the City Council, and as Wharf...

In 1870, Edward Shaw became the first Memphis black to run for U.S. Congress. Though he did not win, he was active in politics, serving on the County Commission, the City Council, and as...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Elmwood Cemetery

Elmwood Cemetery was established on August 28, 1852. Buried here are Memphis pioneer families; 14 Confederate generals; victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878; Governors Isham G. Harris and...

Elmwood Cemetery was established on August 28, 1852. Buried here are Memphis pioneer families; 14 Confederate generals; victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878; Governors Isham G. Harris...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Elvis Aaron Presley

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, the son of Vernon and Gladys Presley. He moved to Memphis in 1948. Soon after signing a contract with Sun Records in 1954 he...

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935, the son of Vernon and Gladys Presley. He moved to Memphis in 1948. Soon after signing a contract with Sun Records in 1954...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Dr. Joseph Edison Walker 1880-1958

In 1923, Dr. J.E. Walker co-founded and was the first president of Universal Life Insurance Company, established in Memphis. A physician by training, he helped organize the old Memphis Negro...

In 1923, Dr. J.E. Walker co-founded and was the first president of Universal Life Insurance Company, established in Memphis. A physician by training, he helped organize the old Memphis...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee

Crump Home

Edward Hull Crump, Memphis political leader for half a century, constructed this residence for his family and himself in 1909. The landscaping was his constant pride until his death here in...

Edward Hull Crump, Memphis political leader for half a century, constructed this residence for his family and himself in 1909. The landscaping was his constant pride until his death here in...

  • shelby county
  • tennessee