A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
Explore the nearly 25,000 worldwide plaques on the Big Map big map screenshot
The most recent plaques:

Leonidas Taylor and the Steamer 'Belle'

Driving along the Sacramento River, about halfway between the California's capital and the town of Woodland, you pass the obelisk above. It’s along a stretch of 55 mph highway, meaning much of the...

Driving along the Sacramento River, about halfway between the California's capital and the town of Woodland, you pass the obelisk above. It’s along a stretch of 55 mph highway, meaning much of...

    Crown Hill

    Crown Hill Cemetery founded in 1863 is the fourth largest cemetery in America. The history of Indiana and the United States is reflected in its monuments. President Benjamin Harrison, vice...

    Crown Hill Cemetery founded in 1863 is the fourth largest cemetery in America. The history of Indiana and the United States is reflected in its monuments. President Benjamin Harrison,...

    • indiana
    • cemetery

    One of the Last of the Stage Drivers

    There are signs for two historical markers on Highway 120 as you approach this old Gold Rush town: one for the "Mark Twain-Bret Harte Trail" and one for the town's original Wells Fargo & Co....

    There are signs for two historical markers on Highway 120 as you approach this old Gold Rush town: one for the "Mark Twain-Bret Harte Trail" and one for the town's original Wells Fargo &...

    • california
    • tuolumne county
    • wells fargo
    • mother lode

    David Erickson Memorial

      This is one of two markers erected at a roadside overlook -- which the U.S. Forest Service modestly calls Rim of the World -- in memory of wildland firefighters killed in blazes in Stanislaus...

      This is one of two markers erected at a roadside overlook -- which the U.S. Forest Service modestly calls Rim of the World -- in memory of wildland firefighters killed in blazes in...

    • california
    • stanislaus n...
    • highway 120
    • wildfires
    • firefighters

    The first grave of Alexandre Dumas

    Alexandre Dumas père was buried here December 8th 1870. His body was transferred to Villers-Cotterêts on April 15th 1872. Since November 30th he rests at the Panthéon in Paris.   submitted by...

    Alexandre Dumas père was buried here December 8th 1870. His body was transferred to Villers- Cotterêts on April 15th 1872. Since November 30th he rests at the Panthéon in Paris.   submitted...

    • alexandre dumas père
    • 1870
    • grave
    • neuville-les-dieppe
    • normandie
    • france

    Tom Kilburn

    TOM KILBURN 1921 - 2001  He co-invented the world's first ever stored-program computer. He wrote its first program in June 1948 while travelling from this station to Manchester University where he...

    TOM KILBURN 1921 - 2001  He co-invented the world's first ever stored-program computer. He wrote its first program in June 1948 while travelling from this station to Manchester University where he...

    • computer science
    • computer
    • stored-program

    Bernard Frank

    DEDICATED TO BERNARD FRANK 1902 - 1964 FORESTER, LAND ECONOMIST, OUTDOORSMAN , INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATIONIST WITH SOME FORTY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN FORESTRY, INCLUDING THIRTY YEARS OF CONCERN WITH...

    DEDICATED TO BERNARD FRANK 1902 - 1964 FORESTER, LAND ECONOMIST, OUTDOORSMAN , INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATIONIST WITH SOME FORTY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN FORESTRY, INCLUDING THIRTY YEARS OF CONCERN WITH...

    • maryland
    • park
    • conservation

    Mallory-Neely House

    Built circa 1852, this 25-room Italian villa-style mansion was home to the Isaac Kirtland, Benjamin Babb, James C. Neely, Daniel Grant, and Barton Lee Mallory families between 1852 and 1969....

    Built circa 1852, this 25-room Italian villa-style mansion was home to the Isaac Kirtland, Benjamin Babb, James C. Neely, Daniel Grant, and Barton Lee Mallory families between 1852 and...

    • shelby county
    • tennessee

    Memphis Queen II

    Built in 1955 by the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company, The Memphis Queen II was the first all-steel passenger ship on the Mississippi River. Measuring 85 feet long by 43 feet wide, it features two...

    Built in 1955 by the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Company, The Memphis Queen II was the first all- steel passenger ship on the Mississippi River. Measuring 85 feet long by 43 feet wide, it features two...

    • shelby county
    • tennessee

    Lenin Statue

    This is not V.I. Lenin This statue is hollow. Inside are six inches of water in ditch along a country road just outside of the small village of Russia, Ohio, a boy in a threadbare sweater, his...

    This is not V.I. Lenin This statue is hollow. Inside are six inches of water in ditch along a country road just outside of the small village of Russia, Ohio, a boy in a threadbare...

    • lenin
    • fremont
    • washington
    • poem
    • russia
    • ohio

    Old United States Mint

    Old United States Mint The Old Mint (1869), San Francisco's second, is California's only such Federal Greek Revival structure. Due to unsurpassed productivity, it became a sub-treasury in 1874....

    Old United States Mint The Old Mint (1869), San Francisco's second, is California's only such Federal Greek Revival structure. Due to unsurpassed productivity, it became a sub-treasury in 1874....

    • mint
    • 1869
    • 1906
    • greek revival

    Site of the First U.S. Branch Mint

    SITE OF FIRST U.S. BRANCH MINT THE FIRST UNITED STATES BRANCH MINT IN SAN FRANCISCO WAS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS JULY 3, 1852. AND OPENED FOR OPERATION APRIL 3, 1854. DR. L.A. BIRDSALL WAS THE FIRST...

    SITE OF FIRST U.S. BRANCH MINT THE FIRST UNITED STATES BRANCH MINT IN SAN FRANCISCO WAS AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS JULY 3, 1852. AND OPENED FOR OPERATION APRIL 3, 1854. DR. L.A. BIRDSALL WAS THE...

    • san francisco
    • california
    • bay area
    • mint
    • branch mint

    Curt C. (Curt) Flood

    • free agent
    • oakland
    • alameda
    • san francisco

    Redwood

    Sequoia Dendron Giganteum (Redwood)  This tree is dedicated by the  BROWNSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH  to the volunteers who recovered our Park after the wind storm of February 7, 2002 Thank You All

    Sequoia Dendron Giganteum (Redwood)  This tree is dedicated by the  BROWNSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH  to the volunteers who recovered our Park after the wind storm of February 7, 2002 Thank You All

    • oregon
    • redwood
    • neighborhood watch

    Joe Morgan

      Dedicated to the People of Bangor

      THIS BUILDING IS GIVEN BY PATRIOTIC CITIZENS AND IS DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF BANGOR  CORNER STONE LAID 1912 - CHARLES W MULLEN MAYOR BUILDING COMPLETED 1913 - FLAVIUS O BEAL MAYOR

      THIS BUILDING IS GIVEN BY PATRIOTIC CITIZENS AND IS DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF BANGOR  CORNER STONE LAID 1912 - CHARLES W MULLEN MAYOR BUILDING COMPLETED 1913 - FLAVIUS O BEAL MAYOR

      • bangor
      • maine
      • patriotic citizens

      U.S. Shot Furnace

      U.S. SHOT FURNACE  This structure is a hot shot furnace for heating cannon balls to be shot at wooden vessels and to set them on fire. It is part of the water battery built by the U.S. (1842-44)...

      U.S. SHOT FURNACE  This structure is a hot shot furnace for heating cannon balls to be shot at wooden vessels and to set them on fire. It is part of the water battery built by the U.S....

      • canonballs
      • wood structure
      • shot furnace

      Fishermen of the Trolling Fleet

      IN MEMORIAM FROM THIS HARBOR - IN STORM - DEPARTED ROY BOWER AND JACK CHAMBERS FISHERMAN OF THE TROLLING FLEET OCTOBER 4, A.D. 1936 ON A MISSION OF RESCUE IT IS NOT TRUE LIFE IS NOT SLAIN BY...

      IN MEMORIAM FROM THIS HARBOR - IN STORM - DEPARTED ROY BOWER AND JACK CHAMBERS FISHERMAN OF THE TROLLING FLEET OCTOBER 4, A.D. 1936 ON A MISSION OF RESCUE IT IS NOT TRUE LIFE IS NOT SLAIN BY...

      • depoe bay
      • mission of rescue
      • in storm

      Shelby County Archives And Hall Of Records

      After the Shelby County criminal courts and jail moved from here in 1982, this National Register Historic District building stood empty until 1998, when extensive renovations were completed and it...

      After the Shelby County criminal courts and jail moved from here in 1982, this National Register Historic District building stood empty until 1998, when extensive renovations were completed and...

      • shelby county
      • tennessee

      Site of First Adobe Home, Lake County

      BUILT BY CHARLES STONE AND ANDY KELSEY ON LAND PURCHASED FROM SALVADOR VALLEJO. CONSTRUCTED BY FORCED INDIAN LABOR CAUSING MUCH RESENTMENT AND CULMINATING IN MURDER BY INDIANS OF BOTH STONE AND...

      BUILT BY CHARLES STONE AND ANDY KELSEY ON LAND PURCHASED FROM SALVADOR VALLEJO. CONSTRUCTED BY FORCED INDIAN LABOR CAUSING MUCH RESENTMENT AND CULMINATING IN MURDER BY INDIANS OF BOTH STONE...

      • adobe
      • slavery
      • murder