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

Paddock-Hubbard House / Paddock- Hubbard House

In 1843 New York natives Alfred and Ruth Paddock migrated to Concord Township. Within two years they erected this Greek Revival house, reminiscent of those in their home state. A prominent...

In 1843 New York natives Alfred and Ruth Paddock migrated to Concord Township. Within two years they erected this Greek Revival house, reminiscent of those in their home state. A...

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Holy Childhood of Jesus School

This Indian school was founded in 1829 by Father Pierre Déjean, who came here with two teachers, Miss Elizabeth Williams and Joseph L’Etorneau. The Indians built a church and the first school...

This Indian school was founded in 1829 by Father Pierre Déjean, who came here with two teachers, Miss Elizabeth Williams and Joseph L’Etorneau. The Indians built a church and the first...

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Anna Howard Shaw / Anna Howard Shaw

As a child in 1859, suffragist Anna Howard Shaw (1847-1919) moved with her family from Massachusetts to Mecosta County. Her father soon returned east with two of his sons, leaving behind his wife...

As a child in 1859, suffragist Anna Howard Shaw (1847-1919) moved with her family from Massachusetts to Mecosta County. Her father soon returned east with two of his sons, leaving behind his wife...

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Old Wayne Village Hall

Since 1878 the Old Wayne Village Hall has served as the center of civic affairs in Wayne. It is one of the few surviving Second Empire-style buildings in Wayne County. The first meeting of the...

Since 1878 the Old Wayne Village Hall has served as the center of civic affairs in Wayne. It is one of the few surviving Second Empire-style buildings in Wayne County. The first meeting of the...

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Wixom Cemetery

The Wixom Cemetery has been in continuous use since 1838, when it was established as the South Commerce Burial Ground. The first burial, however, that of an infant named Israel Barrett, occurred...

The Wixom Cemetery has been in continuous use since 1838, when it was established as the South Commerce Burial Ground. The first burial, however, that of an infant named Israel Barrett,...

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Larke Road

Until 1962 Three Mile (Larke) Road was known simply as Larke Road. In 1876 Henry Larke (1824-1900) became the first settler along this road, making his home about one and one-half miles west of...

Until 1962 Three Mile (Larke) Road was known simply as Larke Road. In 1876 Henry Larke (1824-1900) became the first settler along this road, making his home about one and one-half miles west of...

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Northern Michigan University

Established by the legislature in 1899 as a normal school to provide teachers for the Upper Peninsula, Northern opened with thirty-two students, six faculty members, and Dwight B. Waldo as...

Established by the legislature in 1899 as a normal school to provide teachers for the Upper Peninsula, Northern opened with thirty-two students, six faculty members, and Dwight B. Waldo as...

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Coloma Interurban Station

Built in 1910 by the Benton Harbor-St. Joe Railway and Light Company, this station served passengers and freight until 1928. The station’s transformer provided Coloma’s first source of...

Built in 1910 by the Benton Harbor-St. Joe Railway and Light Company, this station served passengers and freight until 1928. The station’s transformer provided Coloma’s first source of...

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Cooke Hydroelectric Plant

William Augustine Foote, a Jackson entrepreneur, built a series of hydroelectic plants along the Au Sable River with the help of his brother, electrical engineer James Berry Foote. The Footes...

William Augustine Foote, a Jackson entrepreneur, built a series of hydroelectic plants along the Au Sable River with the help of his brother, electrical engineer James Berry Foote. The...

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Beginning of State Reforestation

A concern over the depletion of Michigan’s forests led in 1899 to the creation of a forestry commission. In 1903 the first state forest was set up by the legislature on cutover, burned-over lands...

A concern over the depletion of Michigan’s forests led in 1899 to the creation of a forestry commission. In 1903 the first state forest was set up by the legislature on cutover, burned-over lands...

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Kempf House

Cast iron grilles in an ancient Greek floral motif highlight the frieze of this temple-front Greek Revival house. Built in 1853 for Henry D. Bennett, secretary and steward of the University of...

Cast iron grilles in an ancient Greek floral motif highlight the frieze of this temple-front Greek Revival house. Built in 1853 for Henry D. Bennett, secretary and steward of the University...

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Sault Ste. Marie

This city, the oldest in the Midwest, grew up about the mission of Fathers Dablon and Marquette, founded in 1668 on the banks of the rapids through which Lake Superior’s waters commence their long...

This city, the oldest in the Midwest, grew up about the mission of Fathers Dablon and Marquette, founded in 1668 on the banks of the rapids through which Lake Superior’s waters commence their...

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Birth of Kiwanis

Kiwanis International, one of the great service organizations of the world, had its origin on January 21, 1915. On this date the state of Michigan issued a charter to a group of business and...

Kiwanis International, one of the great service organizations of the world, had its origin on January 21, 1915. On this date the state of Michigan issued a charter to a group of business and...

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Fort Miami

Here, in November 1679, on the Miami River as the St. Joseph was then called, La Salle, the French explorer, built a fort as a base for his western explorations. He awaited the Griffon, the upper...

Here, in November 1679, on the Miami River as the St. Joseph was then called, La Salle, the French explorer, built a fort as a base for his western explorations. He awaited the Griffon, the...

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West Michigan Pike

At the turn of the twentieth century, deep ruts and sand made West Michigan roads nearly impassable. In 1911, the West Michigan Lakeshore Highway Association was founded to promote the...

At the turn of the twentieth century, deep ruts and sand made West Michigan roads nearly impassable. In 1911, the West Michigan Lakeshore Highway Association was founded to promote...

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Michigan's First Jewish Cemetery Site

At this site the first Jewish cemetery in Michigan was established in 1848-49. The Jews Society of Ann Arbor acquired burial rights to this land adjacent to what was then the public cemetery....

At this site the first Jewish cemetery in Michigan was established in 1848-49. The Jews Society of Ann Arbor acquired burial rights to this land adjacent to what was then the public...

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Under the Oaks

On July 6, 1854, a state convention of antislavery men was held in Jackson to found a new political party. Uncle Tom’s Cabin had been published two years earlier, causing increased resentment...

On July 6, 1854, a state convention of antislavery men was held in Jackson to found a new political party. Uncle Tom’s Cabin had been published two years earlier, causing increased...

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Return of Kirtland´s Warbler, The

The Kirtland’s warbler was first identified in 1851 from a specimen collected on Dr. Jared Kirtland’s Ohio farm. The birds originally depended on fire-created young jack pine forests for summer...

The Kirtland’s warbler was first identified in 1851 from a specimen collected on Dr. Jared Kirtland’s Ohio farm. The birds originally depended on fire-created young jack pine forests for summer...

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Treaty Of Spring Wells / Treaty of Spring Wells

After the War of 1812, Territorial Governor Lewis Cass recognized the need to ease tensions between the United States and the Native Peoples who had allied with the British during the war. He...

After the War of 1812, Territorial Governor Lewis Cass recognized the need to ease tensions between the United States and the Native Peoples who had allied with the British during the war. He...

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S. S. Pere Marquette 18

At least twenty-nine persons died when this vessel sank in Lake Michigan twenty miles off the Wisconsin coast on September 9, 1910. One of the Ludington carferry fleet, the 350-foot S. S. Pere...

At least twenty-nine persons died when this vessel sank in Lake Michigan twenty miles off the Wisconsin coast on September 9, 1910. One of the Ludington carferry fleet, the 350-foot S. S....

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