A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
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The most recent plaques:

1984 AIA Honor Award

The American Institute of Architects 1984 Honor Award 333 West Wacker Drive May 1984

The American Institute of Architects 1984 Honor Award 333 West Wacker Drive May 1984

  • chicago
  • illinois
  • aia
  • american ins...
  • honor award
  • 333 west wac...
  • skyscraper

Rockne, Texas

   Rockne began as a small farming community. Phillip Goertz (1825-1900), considered to be the first German Catholic settler of the area, arrived from Germany in 1856 and purchased land along...

   Rockne began as a small farming community. Phillip Goertz (1825-1900), considered to be the first German Catholic settler of the area, arrived from Germany in 1856 and purchased land...

  • south bend
  • notre dame
  • indiana
  • university o...
  • rockne
  • texas
  • knute rockne
  • football
  • sacred heart...

Number One City Datum

This bench mark designates the primary datum for the City of Chicago. It is from this point that all heights in the city are measured. "The City Datum is hereby established as a plane 17.640 feet...

This bench mark designates the primary datum for the City of Chicago. It is from this point that all heights in the city are measured. "The City Datum is hereby established as a plane 17.640...

  • chicago
  • illinois
  • city datum
  • number one c...
  • lasalle
  • monroe
  • northern tru...
  • municipal co...

Then Came Copper

When Captain's Lewis and Clark were traveling through present-day Montana, they notes in their journals the minerals they came across in their journey. Montana is rich in minerals and known for...

When Captain's Lewis and Clark were traveling through present-day Montana, they notes in their journals the minerals they came across in their journey. Montana is rich in minerals and known...

  • lewis and clark
  • great falls
  • copper
  • anaconda min...

Stack on the Hill

In 1908, the world's largest smokestack, standing 506 feet tall, was constructed on the hill in front of you. For more than 70 years the smokestack stood as a prominent Great Falls landmark. By...

In 1908, the world's largest smokestack, standing 506 feet tall, was constructed on the hill in front of you. For more than 70 years the smokestack stood as a prominent Great Falls landmark. By...

  • great falls
  • smokestack

Community Minded

In order to house on-site dam operators and their families, Montana Power Company built small communities, known as "operators camps", at their isolated hydroelectric facilities at Rainbow, Ryan...

In order to house on-site dam operators and their families, Montana Power Company built small communities, known as "operators camps", at their isolated hydroelectric facilities at Rainbow,...

  • great falls
  • montana powe...
  • operator camps
  • cochrane dam
  • rainbow dam
  • morony dam

"Saleing" on Dry Land

Not far from here on June 25, 1805, the Corps of Discovery had a unique experience of sailing on dry land. That day the men were able to put up a mast on one of the canoes, the wind was strong...

Not far from here on June 25, 1805, the Corps of Discovery had a unique experience of sailing on dry land. That day the men were able to put up a mast on one of the canoes, the wind was...

  • lewis and clark
  • saleing

Is there a Doctor in the House?

While the Corps of Discovery was in this area Captain Lewis had to treat Sacagawea, who had become very ill. He treated her with doses of barks and some laudanum (a form of opium). Sacagawea had...

While the Corps of Discovery was in this area Captain Lewis had to treat Sacagawea, who had become very ill. He treated her with doses of barks and some laudanum (a form of opium). Sacagawea had...

  • lewis and clark
  • sacagawea

Crooked Falls

Crooked Falls are most distinctive during periods of high water. Both Lewis and Clark remarked that the falls had a unique appearance, which led to the naming of the falls as "Crooked Falls." The...

Crooked Falls are most distinctive during periods of high water. Both Lewis and Clark remarked that the falls had a unique appearance, which led to the naming of the falls as "Crooked Falls."...

  • lewis and clark
  • crooked falls

Early Development

Paris Gibson, founder of Great Falls, recognized the power potential of nearby waterfalls. In 1887 he founded the Great Falls Water Power and Townsite Company and purchased water power sites along...

Paris Gibson, founder of Great Falls, recognized the power potential of nearby waterfalls. In 1887 he founded the Great Falls Water Power and Townsite Company and purchased water power sites along...

  • great falls
  • paris gibson

Hidden Falls

"I had scarcely infixed my eyes from this pleasing object [Rainbow Falls] before I discovered another fall above at the distance of half a mile; thus invited I did not once think of returning but...

"I had scarcely infixed my eyes from this pleasing object [Rainbow Falls] before I discovered another fall above at the distance of half a mile; thus invited I did not once think of returning...

  • lewis and clark
  • colter falls

Silver Smelter

A few remnants of the Montana Smelter site is all that is left of a large silver-lead smelting operation dating from 1888 to 1902. During that period, work at the smelter fluctuated with the price...

A few remnants of the Montana Smelter site is all that is left of a large silver-lead smelting operation dating from 1888 to 1902. During that period, work at the smelter fluctuated with the price...

  • great falls
  • montana smelter

Smelter Manager's Home

Shown at right, this Queen Anne Style home served as the Montana Smelter manager's home. A tree lined driveway led to the ornate home, an elaborate structure for Great Falls. The first floor had a...

Shown at right, this Queen Anne Style home served as the Montana Smelter manager's home. A tree lined driveway led to the ornate home, an elaborate structure for Great Falls. The first floor had a...

  • great falls
  • queen anne style
  • montana smelter

First Spring

This plaque is mounted to a rectangular chunk of granite in a small remote clearing between the wooded hills and sand dune marshes at the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A few feet from the plaque...

This plaque is mounted to a rectangular chunk of granite in a small remote clearing between the wooded hills and sand dune marshes at the tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. A few feet from the plaque...

  • first spring
  • spring
  • provincetown
  • truro
  • cape cod
  • pilgrims
  • head of the meadows

Great Falls Railroad Historic District

Great Falls founder Paris Gibson envisioned his young city becoming both "a great industrial center" and "a city of unsurpassed beauty." These twin goals converged in the Railroad Historic...

Great Falls founder Paris Gibson envisioned his young city becoming both "a great industrial center" and "a city of unsurpassed beauty." These twin goals converged in the Railroad...

  • great falls
  • paris gibson
  • works progre...
  • great northe...

Later a Tavern and Brothel

Site of Blackman Grocery

Site of Blackman Grocery

  • snohomish
  • washington
  • grocery
  • tavern
  • brothel

Town of Snohomish Historic District

  • washington
  • snohomish

Centennial of Salesians in North Beach

1897     1997 On March 11, 1897 Fr. Raphael Piperni, Fr. Victor Cassini, Bro. Nicholas Imielinski and Bro. Joseph Oreni, Salesians of Saint John Bosco, came to the Italian community of North Beach...

1897     1997 On March 11, 1897 Fr. Raphael Piperni, Fr. Victor Cassini, Bro. Nicholas Imielinski and Bro. Joseph Oreni, Salesians of Saint John Bosco, came to the Italian community of North Beach...

  • san francisco
  • california
  • bay area
  • north beach
  • italian
  • little italy
  • saints peter...
  • washington square
  • salesians
  • catholic
  • centennial

Pirates of Penzance

The building Sullivan finished the Pirates Of Penzance score in before the first dress rehearsal in 1879. Image from Jeff Dailey.

The building Sullivan finished the Pirates Of Penzance score in before the first dress rehearsal in 1879. Image from Jeff Dailey.

  • new york
  • sullivan
  • gilbert
  • pirates
  • penzance

Black Panther Traffic Light

On August 1, 1967 This stoplight was installed as a result of a community initiative spearheaded by the Black Panther Party.

On August 1, 1967 This stoplight was installed as a result of a community initiative spearheaded by the Black Panther Party.

  • oakland
  • bay area
  • california
  • black panthers