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

Gore's Landing

Named after Thomas S. Gore, an Irishman who settled in this vicinity in 1845, the village of Gore's Landing prospered for a time as the terminal point of a plank road constructed from Cobourg to...

Named after Thomas S. Gore, an Irishman who settled in this vicinity in 1845, the village of Gore's Landing prospered for a time as the terminal point of a plank road constructed from Cobourg to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Grand Portage

Circumventing 34 km of falls and rapids, this portage ran some 14 km from Lake Superior to a point upstream on the opposite side of the Pigeon River. It was first mentioned in 1722 by a French...

Circumventing 34 km of falls and rapids, this portage ran some 14 km from Lake Superior to a point upstream on the opposite side of the Pigeon River. It was first mentioned in 1722 by a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Gillies Bros. Lumbering Firm

This firm was begun in 1873 when James, William, John and David Gillies purchased a steam sawmill here on the Ottawa River at Braeside. Building on the experience acquired by their father, John...

This firm was begun in 1873 when James, William, John and David Gillies purchased a steam sawmill here on the Ottawa River at Braeside. Building on the experience acquired by their father,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Laidlaw 1828-1889

An energetic railway promoter and builder, Laidlaw was born in Scotland and emigrated to Toronto in 1855. He soon prospered as a grain merchant and a wharf-owner, and after 1866 gained prominence...

An energetic railway promoter and builder, Laidlaw was born in Scotland and emigrated to Toronto in 1855. He soon prospered as a grain merchant and a wharf-owner, and after 1866 gained prominence...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Glengarry Fencibles

The regiment of Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles was raised in 1811-12 largely from among the Highland settlers of this region, many of whom had served previously in Europe with the Glengarry...

The regiment of Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles was raised in 1811-12 largely from among the Highland settlers of this region, many of whom had served previously in Europe with the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grey Owl 1888-1938

As a youth in England, Archibald Belaney was fascinated with wildlife and tales of North American Indians. At seventeen he came to Canada and soon began living among the Ojibwa on Bear Island. He...

As a youth in England, Archibald Belaney was fascinated with wildlife and tales of North American Indians. At seventeen he came to Canada and soon began living among the Ojibwa on Bear Island. He...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grand Trunk Railway St. Mary's Junction

The Grand Trunk Railway was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took in existing lines, new ones had to be built, including the Toronto to Sarnia section which...

The Grand Trunk Railway was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took in existing lines, new ones had to be built, including the Toronto to Sarnia section which...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Glanmore

This imposing house is a fine example of the Second Empire style which was popular in Canada in the 1870s and 1880s. Local architect Thomas Hanley skillfully blended the characteristic Second...

This imposing house is a fine example of the Second Empire style which was popular in Canada in the 1870s and 1880s. Local architect Thomas Hanley skillfully blended the characteristic...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Stoney Point

French-speaking settlers from the Detroit-Sandwich area and Lower Canada (Quebec) were the first to locate in Tilbury West Township after it was surveyed in 1824. They established farms along Lake...

French-speaking settlers from the Detroit-Sandwich area and Lower Canada (Quebec) were the first to locate in Tilbury West Township after it was surveyed in 1824. They established farms along Lake...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Kapuskasing

In 1911 the National Transcontinental Railway, then under construction, reached the present site of Kapuskasing. Three years later during the first World War the Canadian government established in...

In 1911 the National Transcontinental Railway, then under construction, reached the present site of Kapuskasing. Three years later during the first World War the Canadian government established...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Maitland

In this vicinity, the site of a shipyard used during both the late French and early British periods, a village plot was laid out in 1824 for Jehiel and Ziba Phillips. Adjacent to it George...

In this vicinity, the site of a shipyard used during both the late French and early British periods, a village plot was laid out in 1824 for Jehiel and Ziba Phillips. Adjacent to it...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Regular Baptist Church, Dresden

The First Baptist Church of Dawn - established by former slaves and free African Americans in the 1840s - held its meetings in private homes, then in a log chapel at the British American...

The First Baptist Church of Dawn - established by former slaves and free African Americans in the 1840s - held its meetings in private homes, then in a log chapel at the British American...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fort Wellington

Constructed in 1812 and 1813 under direction of Lieutenant Colonels Thomas Pearson and George R.J. Macdonell, as the main post for the defence of the communication between Kingston and Montreal,...

Constructed in 1812 and 1813 under direction of Lieutenant Colonels Thomas Pearson and George R.J. Macdonell, as the main post for the defence of the communication between Kingston and Montreal,...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founders of Fergus

Adam Fergusson (1782-1862) first visited Canada in 1831 to investigate emigration for the Highland Society of Scotland. In 1833, in partnership with a fellow Scot, James Webster (1808-69), he...

Adam Fergusson (1782-1862) first visited Canada in 1831 to investigate emigration for the Highland Society of Scotland. In 1833, in partnership with a fellow Scot, James Webster (1808-69),...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The French Presence in Cornwall

A vital cultural force in Eastern Ontario, the Franco-Ontarian community in Cornwall was established during the late 1870s when large-scale industrial expansion led to an influx of workers and...

A vital cultural force in Eastern Ontario, the Franco-Ontarian community in Cornwall was established during the late 1870s when large-scale industrial expansion led to an influx of workers and...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Bracebridge

In 1862 the Muskoka Road, a colonization route built to open this region for settlement, was completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River. A settlement, including a...

In 1862 the Muskoka Road, a colonization route built to open this region for settlement, was completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River. A settlement, including...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Newspaper 1793

The Upper Canada Gazette or American Oracle, first newspaper in what is now Ontario, was published in the town of Niagara. Its first issue, edited by Louis Roy, appeared April 18, 1793. On this...

The Upper Canada Gazette or American Oracle, first newspaper in what is now Ontario, was published in the town of Niagara. Its first issue, edited by Louis Roy, appeared April 18, 1793. On this...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Stratford

In 1832, some three years after company surveyors had erected shanties near this site, the Canada Company, a large private land settlement agency, initiated the development of " Little Thames" as...

In 1832, some three years after company surveyors had erected shanties near this site, the Canada Company, a large private land settlement agency, initiated the development of " Little Thames"...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Founders of Campbellford

In 1831 two Scottish-born brothers, Lieut.-Col. Robert Campbell and Major David Campbell, were granted 890 ha of land in Seymour Township, which had been surveyed in 1819. Robert who had achieved...

In 1831 two Scottish-born brothers, Lieut.-Col. Robert Campbell and Major David Campbell, were granted 890 ha of land in Seymour Township, which had been surveyed in 1819. Robert who had...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Founding of Parry Sound

About 1857 James and William Gibson erected a sawmill at the mouth of the Seguin River. William Beatty, with his sons James and William, acquired the mill in 1863, and the following year were...

About 1857 James and William Gibson erected a sawmill at the mouth of the Seguin River. William Beatty, with his sons James and William, acquired the mill in 1863, and the following year...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown