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:

The Erland Lee Home and the First Women's Institute

This 19th-century farmhouse is the birthplace of the Women's Institutes (WI), an organization that played a vital role in thousands of small communities. Inspired by domestic science reformer...

This 19th-century farmhouse is the birthplace of the Women's Institutes (WI), an organization that played a vital role in thousands of small communities. Inspired by domestic science...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Earnscliffe

This was the home of the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, P.C., G.C.B., M.P., Chief Architect of Confederation. Sir John was the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada and headed...

This was the home of the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, P.C., G.C.B., M.P., Chief Architect of Confederation. Sir John was the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada and headed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Elora Drill Shed

This handsome stone structure, built in 1865, is a rare surviving example of early drill hall architecture in Canada. During the 1860s, the American Civil War and the Fenian Raids raised fears for...

This handsome stone structure, built in 1865, is a rare surviving example of early drill hall architecture in Canada. During the 1860s, the American Civil War and the Fenian Raids raised fears for...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Ernest Thompson Seton 1860-1946

Ernest Evan Thompson, who later adopted his ancestral name of Seton, was born in England and in 1866 emigrated with his family to a farm near Lindsay. There and in the Toronto region, where he...

Ernest Evan Thompson, who later adopted his ancestral name of Seton, was born in England and in 1866 emigrated with his family to a farm near Lindsay. There and in the Toronto region, where...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Emily Howard Jennings Stowe, M.D. 1831-1903

The first female physician to practise medicine in Canada, Emily Jennings was born in Norwich Township to Quaker parents. For some years she taught school, then, in the early 1860's, she decided...

The first female physician to practise medicine in Canada, Emily Jennings was born in Norwich Township to Quaker parents. For some years she taught school, then, in the early 1860's, she decided...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Edison Homestead

On this site stood the home of Samuel Edison, a Loyalist from New Jersey who had moved to Nova Scotia in 1783 and settled here in 1811. During the War of 1812 he served as a captain in the 1st...

On this site stood the home of Samuel Edison, a Loyalist from New Jersey who had moved to Nova Scotia in 1783 and settled here in 1811. During the War of 1812 he served as a captain in the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Ebenezer Allan 1752-1813

Born in New Jersey, Allan joined the Loyalist forces in 1777 and served with Butler's Rangers and the Indian Department during the American Revolution. The founder of Rochester, N.Y., he moved to...

Born in New Jersey, Allan joined the Loyalist forces in 1777 and served with Butler's Rangers and the Indian Department during the American Revolution. The founder of Rochester, N.Y., he moved to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Early Land Survey in Ontario

In September 1783, Deputy Surveyor-General John Collins was despatched to Cataraqui by Governor Haldimand to lay out townships for loyalist settlers. The necessary land was purchased from...

In September 1783, Deputy Surveyor-General John Collins was despatched to Cataraqui by Governor Haldimand to lay out townships for loyalist settlers. The necessary land was purchased...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe 1766-1850

The wife of John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim was born at Whitchurch, Herefordshire. Her diaries and sketches, compiled 1791-96 while in...

The wife of John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant- Governor of Upper Canada, Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillim was born at Whitchurch, Herefordshire. Her diaries and sketches, compiled 1791-96 while...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Dundas Town Hall

Dundas was incorporated as a town in 1847 by a special Act of the legislature of the Province of Canada. The following year the town council accepted a tender from a local builder, James Scott, to...

Dundas was incorporated as a town in 1847 by a special Act of the legislature of the Province of Canada. The following year the town council accepted a tender from a local builder, James Scott, to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

District Court-House and Gaol 1843

This excellently proportioned structure was designed in the Neo-classical style by Malcolm McPherson of Perth. Its notable architectural features are the "floating" semi-circular leaded transoms...

This excellently proportioned structure was designed in the Neo-classical style by Malcolm McPherson of Perth. Its notable architectural features are the "floating" semi-circular leaded transoms...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Detention of Second World War Prisoners of War and Great Britain's Enemy Aliens

From 1940 to 1947, Canada detained some 34,000 German combatants, Great Britain's civilian internees, and enemy merchant mariners in 26 permanent camps and hundreds of smaller work camps across...

From 1940 to 1947, Canada detained some 34,000 German combatants, Great Britain's civilian internees, and enemy merchant mariners in 26 permanent camps and hundreds of smaller work camps across...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Daniel McLachlin 1810-72

One of the Ottawa Valley's most enterprising lumbermen, McLachlin was born in Rigaud Township, Lower Canada, and by 1837 had built a sawmill and grist-mill at Bytown (Ottawa). In 1851, influenced...

One of the Ottawa Valley's most enterprising lumbermen, McLachlin was born in Rigaud Township, Lower Canada, and by 1837 had built a sawmill and grist-mill at Bytown (Ottawa). In 1851,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

David Brown Milne 1882-1953

One of Canada's outstanding artists, Milne was born on a farm near Burgoyne, Saugeen Township, and raised in Paisley. Though largely self-taught, he studied briefly in New York at the Art...

One of Canada's outstanding artists, Milne was born on a farm near Burgoyne, Saugeen Township, and raised in Paisley. Though largely self-taught, he studied briefly in New York at the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

District Court House and Gaol

When the British withdrew from Detroit in 1796, they transferred the courts of the Western District to Sandwich (Windsor). An abandoned blockhouse, relocated from Chatham, served briefly as the...

When the British withdrew from Detroit in 1796, they transferred the courts of the Western District to Sandwich (Windsor). An abandoned blockhouse, relocated from Chatham, served briefly as the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Destruction of the Caroline, 1837

On the night of December 29-30, 1837, some 60 volunteers acting on the orders of Col. Allan Napier MacNab, and commanded by Capt. Andrew Drew, R.N., set out from Chippawa in small boats to capture...

On the night of December 29-30, 1837, some 60 volunteers acting on the orders of Col. Allan Napier MacNab, and commanded by Capt. Andrew Drew, R.N., set out from Chippawa in small boats to capture...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Dixie Union Chapel

Constructed of stone from the nearby Etobicoke River, this building also known as the Stone Chapel, is a rare surviving example of a "union" chapel from the settlement period of Upper Canada. It...

Constructed of stone from the nearby Etobicoke River, this building also known as the Stone Chapel, is a rare surviving example of a "union" chapel from the settlement period of Upper Canada. It...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Daniel David Palmer (1845-1913)

Raised in Port Perry, D.D. Palmer was self-educated, well read and keenly interested in spiritualism and alternative medicine. While working as a magnetic healer in the United States, his clinical...

Raised in Port Perry, D.D. Palmer was self- educated, well read and keenly interested in spiritualism and alternative medicine. While working as a magnetic healer in the United States, his...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Daniel Fowler 1810-1894

In this house Daniel Fowler, a well known nineteenth century Canadian artist, lived for over forty years. Born in England he first took up law, but on the death of his father studied art under the...

In this house Daniel Fowler, a well known nineteenth century Canadian artist, lived for over forty years. Born in England he first took up law, but on the death of his father studied art under the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Dawn Settlement

In the 1830s, the Reverend Josiah Henson and other abolitionists sought ways to provide refugees from slavery with the education and skills they needed to become self-sufficient in Upper Canada....

In the 1830s, the Reverend Josiah Henson and other abolitionists sought ways to provide refugees from slavery with the education and skills they needed to become self-sufficient in Upper Canada....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown