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

Passenger and Packet Freighters on the Upper Great Lakes

Until the mid-20th century, passenger and packet freighters were the most efficient means for transporting goods and people to and from isolated communities of the Upper Great Lakes. Essential to...

Until the mid-20th century, passenger and packet freighters were the most efficient means for transporting goods and people to and from isolated communities of the Upper Great Lakes. Essential...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Point Frederick Buildings

This peninsula, headquarters of the Provincial Marine (c.1790-1813), and of the Royal Navy (1813-1853), was the major British naval base on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Buildings surviving...

This peninsula, headquarters of the Provincial Marine (c.1790-1813), and of the Royal Navy (1813-1853), was the major British naval base on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Buildings surviving...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Philip Dansken Ross 1858-1949

Born in Montreal, Ross graduated in 1878 from McGill University and served on newspapers in Montreal and Toronto before becoming, in 1886, managing director and part-owner of the OTTAWA JOURNAL....

Born in Montreal, Ross graduated in 1878 from McGill University and served on newspapers in Montreal and Toronto before becoming, in 1886, managing director and part-owner of the OTTAWA JOURNAL....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Point Frederick

A strategic location for the defence of the Loyalist settlement at Cataraqui (Kingston), this point was reserved in 1788 and named after Sir Frederick Haldimand, Governor of Quebec (1778-86). In...

A strategic location for the defence of the Loyalist settlement at Cataraqui (Kingston), this point was reserved in 1788 and named after Sir Frederick Haldimand, Governor of Quebec (1778-86). In...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Pointe au Baril

The barques "Iroquoise" amd "Outaouaise", the last French ships of war that navigated Lake Ontario, were built on this point, then called Pointe au Baril. On 17th August, 1760, the Outaouaise,...

The barques "Iroquoise" amd "Outaouaise", the last French ships of war that navigated Lake Ontario, were built on this point, then called Pointe au Baril. On 17th August, 1760, the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Peter McArthur 1866-1924

Born near Appin, Upper Canada, McArthur attended the University of Toronto and worked briefly for the Toronto Mail before moving to New York in 1890. In 1896 he became editor of Truth and as such...

Born near Appin, Upper Canada, McArthur attended the University of Toronto and worked briefly for the Toronto Mail before moving to New York in 1890. In 1896 he became editor of Truth and as such...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Prescott Barracks and Hospital

The front portion of this structure one of the earliest surviving military buildings in Ontario, was constructed as a residence about 1810 by Colonel Edward Jessup, the founder of Prescott....

The front portion of this structure one of the earliest surviving military buildings in Ontario, was constructed as a residence about 1810 by Colonel Edward Jessup, the founder of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Porcupine Fire

In the summer of 1911, when the Porcupine gold rush was at its height the weather was hot and dry. On July 11, gale-force winds from the southwest whipped individual bush fires into a 16 km sea of...

In the summer of 1911, when the Porcupine gold rush was at its height the weather was hot and dry. On July 11, gale-force winds from the southwest whipped individual bush fires into a 16 km sea of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Prince Edward County Fairgrounds

Formed in 1831 to promote better methods of farming, the Prince Edward County Agricultural Society held its first fair in 1836. This annual event quickly developed into one of the leading county...

Formed in 1831 to promote better methods of farming, the Prince Edward County Agricultural Society held its first fair in 1836. This annual event quickly developed into one of the leading county...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Peel County Court House

This Court House building, together with the adjacent jail and registry office, served as the judicial and administrative centre for the County of Peel for more than a century. Its prominent...

This Court House building, together with the adjacent jail and registry office, served as the judicial and administrative centre for the County of Peel for more than a century. Its...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Precious Blood Cathedral

This church was constructed in 1875 and dedicated in 1876 as the Parish Church of The Sacred Heart by Bishop Jean-Francois Jamot. It replaced a wooden building constructed in 1846 which had served...

This church was constructed in 1875 and dedicated in 1876 as the Parish Church of The Sacred Heart by Bishop Jean-Francois Jamot. It replaced a wooden building constructed in 1846 which had served...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Port Carling 1869

The first white settlers on the site of this town, then known as Indian Village, arrived about 1865. In 1869 it was named after the Honourable John Carling, Ontario's first Minister of Public...

The first white settlers on the site of this town, then known as Indian Village, arrived about 1865. In 1869 it was named after the Honourable John Carling, Ontario's first Minister of Public...

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  • ontario
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The "Philo Parsons" Incident

On September 19, 1864, the American steamer "Philo Parsons" was seized off Kelley's Island, about 56 km southeast of here, by some thirty Confederate sympathizers under John Y. Beale, a Southern...

On September 19, 1864, the American steamer "Philo Parsons" was seized off Kelley's Island, about 56 km southeast of here, by some thirty Confederate sympathizers under John Y. Beale, a Southern...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Opeongo Road

This was one of the "colonization roads" authorized by the Province of Canada in an attempt to open up the districts lying inland from the settled townships. Surveyed in 1852 by Robert Bell,...

This was one of the "colonization roads" authorized by the Province of Canada in an attempt to open up the districts lying inland from the settled townships. Surveyed in 1852 by Robert Bell,...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Oronhyatekha 1841-1907

The renowned Mohawk chief, orator and physician is buried in this churchyard. Born on the Grand River Reservation, he attended the Universities of Toronto and Oxford. At the age of twenty he was...

The renowned Mohawk chief, orator and physician is buried in this churchyard. Born on the Grand River Reservation, he attended the Universities of Toronto and Oxford. At the age of twenty he...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Outlet Beach

Outlet Beach is regarded as one of the finest sand beaches in Canada. The beach has always been popular with local residents and today, as part of Sandbanks Provincial Park, attracts hundreds of...

Outlet Beach is regarded as one of the finest sand beaches in Canada. The beach has always been popular with local residents and today, as part of Sandbanks Provincial Park, attracts hundreds...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Old St. Paul's Church & Christ Church

With the assistance of local parishioners and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Reverend Richard Pollard began construction of St. Paul's Church in 1819. Located one kilometre...

With the assistance of local parishioners and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Reverend Richard Pollard began construction of St. Paul's Church in 1819. Located one kilometre...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Ontario School for the Deaf

In 1869, at the urging of John B. McGann, a pioneer educator of the hearing impaired, the Ontario government sanctioned the establishment of the first provincial school for deaf children. A...

In 1869, at the urging of John B. McGann, a pioneer educator of the hearing impaired, the Ontario government sanctioned the establishment of the first provincial school for deaf children....

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Oliver Daunais 1836-1916

Near here in 1882, Daunais made his first important discovery, the Rabbit Mountain Silver Mine. One of the best-known prospectors and mining promoters of his day, he was born at St. Ours, Quebec,...

Near here in 1882, Daunais made his first important discovery, the Rabbit Mountain Silver Mine. One of the best-known prospectors and mining promoters of his day, he was born at St. Ours, Quebec,...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Old Brewery Bay

This property on Lake Couchiching, which Stephen Leacock purchased in 1908 and named "The Old Brewery Bay", was a source of creativity and happiness for Canada's most celebrated humorist. Here, he...

This property on Lake Couchiching, which Stephen Leacock purchased in 1908 and named "The Old Brewery Bay", was a source of creativity and happiness for Canada's most celebrated humorist. Here, he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown