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

The Cascades

On November 5, 1913, 40,000 people gathered here to witness the dedication of the Los Angeles - Owens River Aqueduct. The terminus of a 233-mile long engineering marvel, the Cascades were the site...

  • natural resources
  • los angeles
  • aqueduct

Sylmar Earthquake

This tablet presented February 9, 1979, to the Veterans Memorial Park, in loving memory of the many veterans, nurses, and aides of the San Fernando Valley Veterans Hospital, whose lives were lost...

  • disasters
  • veterans
  • earthquake
  • memorial
  • san fernando
  • los angeles

Rogerio Rocha

Rogerio Rocha was born in 1801, in the village of Mapanga, and was baptized in the San Fernando Mission. Rocha became a well-known blacksmith in California. In Rocha's early years he became...

  • native americans

Grand Central Air Terminal

Grand Central Air Terminal is an intact example of an early airport passenger terminal and serves as a physical record of pivotal events that helped shape the development of air travel and...

  • aviation
  • commerce
  • transportation
  • architecture
  • entertainment
  • free tours

Hang Gliding

On this site, May 23, 1971, with a gathering of enthusiasts for personal human flight, began the worldwide sport of Hang Gliding. (In 1971 a dozen Hang Glider pilots gathered here to fly...

  • flying
  • sports
  • adventure
  • aviation

Modern Times

End of an Era —  Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times”.  Near where you are now standing, silent film comic Charlie Chaplin, with Paulette Goddard at his side, appeared in the final scene of the epic...

  • entertainment
  • movies
  • hollywood

Sylmar Tunnel Disaster

“Honoring The Lives”. On June 24, 1971, an explosion and fire took the lives of seventeen construction workers building a tunnel in Sylmar, California. The tunnel was being built for...

  • disaster
  • aqueduct
  • construction
  • sylmar earthquake
  • memorial

Star House

The Star dance hall and brothel, early 1900sStar House Circa 1902Bootlegged booze, loose women, hot music and rowdy customers- One of Ketchikan's oldest buildings and the Territory of...

  • star house
  • ketchikan
  • creek street
  • alaska
  • prohibition
  • national reg...
  • 1902
  • brothel

Moss Fujii

  • buddy bench
  • 1965
  • 6th grade

The Raven Totem Pole

The Raven Totem PoleThis pole was carved by Thomas Ukas in the middle 1960s. Mr. Ukas' father was William Ukas, also a noted and respected carver. William Ukas' works include the original...

  • wrangell
  • totem
  • 1960s
  • alaska
  • thomas ukas
  • post office
  • native