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

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

Cranfield House 1902

This house was built for William and Caroline Harris and was named for Caroline's ancestral village. Designed by Toronto architect Henry Simpson, it has elements of two architectural styles. The...

This house was built for William and Caroline Harris and was named for Caroline's ancestral village. Designed by Toronto architect Henry Simpson, it has elements of two architectural styles. The...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Church of the Holy Trinity 1847

This church was made possible by a gift from Mary Lambert Swale of Yorkshire, England, who stipulated that 'the seats be free and unappropriated forever'. At that time most other Anglican churches...

This church was made possible by a gift from Mary Lambert Swale of Yorkshire, England, who stipulated that 'the seats be free and unappropriated forever'. At that time most other Anglican churches...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

C.W. Jefferys 1869-1951

This house was the residence and studio of one of Canada's leading historical artists. Born in Rochester, England, he came to Toronto about 1880, and first worked as a lithographer's apprentice....

This house was the residence and studio of one of Canada's leading historical artists. Born in Rochester, England, he came to Toronto about 1880, and first worked as a lithographer's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Church of St. Simon- the-Apostle

The Anglican parish of St. Simon-the-Apostle was founded in 1883 to serve the expanding Rosedale community. The congregation first worshipped in the chapel of St. James-the-Less, Parliament...

The Anglican parish of St. Simon-the-Apostle was founded in 1883 to serve the expanding Rosedale community. The congregation first worshipped in the chapel of St. James-the-Less,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Churchill

He arrived in Toronto a celebrity, but at home Winston Churchill's star had fallen. When he spoke at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 3, 1932, the great statesman had entered the Wilderness Years, a...

He arrived in Toronto a celebrity, but at home Winston Churchill's star had fallen. When he spoke at Maple Leaf Gardens on March 3, 1932, the great statesman had entered the Wilderness Years, a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Colborne Street Theatre

On this site once stood the Colborne Street Theatre a ramshackle former stable where, during the autumn of 1829 a murder took place that today is looked upon as one of the instigating moments that...

On this site once stood the Colborne Street Theatre a ramshackle former stable where, during the autumn of 1829 a murder took place that today is looked upon as one of the instigating moments that...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Croft Street

Once known as Ulster Avenue, this narrow lane was re-named in 1908 after John Croft, sole fatality of the Great Toronto Fire of April 19, 1904.On May 4, Croft, a 38-year-old explosives expert, was...

Once known as Ulster Avenue, this narrow lane was re-named in 1908 after John Croft, sole fatality of the Great Toronto Fire of April 19, 1904.On May 4, Croft, a 38-year-old explosives expert,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Consumers' Gas Company Purifying House 1888

Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architects Strickland & Symons, this building was part of a major expansion of the Consumers' Gas Company manufacturing plant. The final stages of coal...

Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architects Strickland & Symons, this building was part of a major expansion of the Consumers' Gas Company manufacturing plant. The final stages of coal...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Castle Frank

The country home of Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada 1791-1796, stood on these heights just south of this site 1794-1829. Named after Francis Gwillim...

The country home of Lieutenant Colonel John Graves Simcoe first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada 1791-1796, stood on these heights just south of this site 1794-1829. Named after Francis...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Charles Trick Currelly 1876-1957

Born in Exeter, Huron County, this renowned archaeologist, teacher and administrator was educated locally and in Toronto. Completing his studies at Victoria College, he received his B.A. from the...

Born in Exeter, Huron County, this renowned archaeologist, teacher and administrator was educated locally and in Toronto. Completing his studies at Victoria College, he received his B.A. from the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Canoe & Calipers

This sculpture of Canoe and Calipers, marks the meeting of two technologies: the calipers a symbol of the old world and the canoe a gift of the First Nations. Both were instrumental in shaping...

This sculpture of Canoe and Calipers, marks the meeting of two technologies: the calipers a symbol of the old world and the canoe a gift of the First Nations. Both were instrumental in shaping...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Cornell Home

William Cornell, a descendant of a Rhode Island colonist who came to America in 1636, settled here on two lakefront lots in the forest in 1799. With other pioneers he cut out Scarborough's front...

William Cornell, a descendant of a Rhode Island colonist who came to America in 1636, settled here on two lakefront lots in the forest in 1799. With other pioneers he cut out Scarborough's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Canadian Pacific's Hudson 2815

It's a crisp late winter day in March, 1935. Since late last night, Canadian Pacific's Hudson 2815 has been drowsing in the steamy warmth of Toronto's John Street roundhouse, while the shop forces...

It's a crisp late winter day in March, 1935. Since late last night, Canadian Pacific's Hudson 2815 has been drowsing in the steamy warmth of Toronto's John Street roundhouse, while the shop forces...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Beatrice Lillie Building

The world renowned star of English musical comedy, Beatrice Lillie, was born May 28, 1894 at 68 Dovercourt Road. She was educated at Alexander Muir-Gladstone Public School and Loretto Academy in...

The world renowned star of English musical comedy, Beatrice Lillie, was born May 28, 1894 at 68 Dovercourt Road. She was educated at Alexander Muir-Gladstone Public School and Loretto Academy in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Bay Queen Street Store

Department stores revolutionized shopping in the late nineteenth century by offering selection, low prices and money-back guarantees. In 1895, Robert Simpson commissioned architect Edmund Burke to...

Department stores revolutionized shopping in the late nineteenth century by offering selection, low prices and money-back guarantees. In 1895, Robert Simpson commissioned architect Edmund Burke...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Bracondale Hill

On this site Robert John Turner (1795-1872) built his house "Bracondale Hill" about 1847. A lawyer, he practised in the chancery courts at Osgoode Hall and became referee of titles and accountant...

On this site Robert John Turner (1795-1872) built his house "Bracondale Hill" about 1847. A lawyer, he practised in the chancery courts at Osgoode Hall and became referee of titles and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown