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

Fur Trading at Saugeen

The Anishnabe lived by the mouth of the Saugeen River before Pierre Piché arrived in 1818 to begin fur trading in the region. By 1826, the Hudson's Bay Company established an outpost at Saguingue...

The Anishnabe lived by the mouth of the Saugeen River before Pierre Piché arrived in 1818 to begin fur trading in the region. By 1826, the Hudson's Bay Company established an outpost at Saguingue...

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The Founding of Mount Forest

During the survey of the Garafraxa Colonization Road, constructed from Arthur to Georgian Bay in 1840-48, land was reserved for a settlement here at the South Saugeen River. By 1851 a post-office...

During the survey of the Garafraxa Colonization Road, constructed from Arthur to Georgian Bay in 1840-48, land was reserved for a settlement here at the South Saugeen River. By 1851 a...

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Fort Frances Canal 1878

Constructed 1875-78, during Alexander Mackenzie's administration as part of a larger project intended to improve communications with the West, the Fort Frances Canal provided unbroken...

Constructed 1875-78, during Alexander Mackenzie's administration as part of a larger project intended to improve communications with the West, the Fort Frances Canal provided...

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The Founding of Renfrew

Attracted by the development of the lumbering industry in the Upper Ottawa valley, a few settlers had located in this region by 1830. Six years later Xavier Plaunt acquired land here, near the...

Attracted by the development of the lumbering industry in the Upper Ottawa valley, a few settlers had located in this region by 1830. Six years later Xavier Plaunt acquired land here, near the...

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The Founding of Tecumseh

The intersecting of the Tecumseh Road, named for the eminent Indian leader, by the Great Western Railroad line in 1854 stimulated settlement in this largely French-Canadian area. A community...

The intersecting of the Tecumseh Road, named for the eminent Indian leader, by the Great Western Railroad line in 1854 stimulated settlement in this largely French-Canadian area. A...

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The Founding of Leamington

Parts of Mersea Township were surveyed in the 1790's, but it was not until 1833 that Alexander Wilkinson, who had acquired land elsewhere in the township by 1810, obtained his patent for a lot now...

Parts of Mersea Township were surveyed in the 1790's, but it was not until 1833 that Alexander Wilkinson, who had acquired land elsewhere in the township by 1810, obtained his patent for a lot now...

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The Founding of Orillia

In 1820 the government surveyed Orillia Township and a decade later located Chief William Yellowhead's Ojibwa band on lands near the "Narrows". By 1839, when the government laid out the Orillia...

In 1820 the government surveyed Orillia Township and a decade later located Chief William Yellowhead's Ojibwa band on lands near the "Narrows". By 1839, when the government laid out the Orillia...

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The Founding of Parkhill

The opening of a railway station near here in 1860 on the recently completed Grand Trunk line from Guelph to Sarnia provided the nucleus around which a community soon became established. A...

The opening of a railway station near here in 1860 on the recently completed Grand Trunk line from Guelph to Sarnia provided the nucleus around which a community soon became established. A...

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Founders of Ingersoll

Born in Massachusetts, Major Thomas Ingersoll (1749-1812) came to the Niagara peninsula in 1793 and was promised some 32,000 ha of land in the present Oxford County for himself and a group of...

Born in Massachusetts, Major Thomas Ingersoll (1749-1812) came to the Niagara peninsula in 1793 and was promised some 32,000 ha of land in the present Oxford County for himself and a group...

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The Founding of Iroquois Falls

This region's first inhabitants were aboriginal peoples who were attracted by its abundant natural resources and extensive water routes. Europeans arrived in the late 1600s to acquire furs and...

This region's first inhabitants were aboriginal peoples who were attracted by its abundant natural resources and extensive water routes. Europeans arrived in the late 1600s to acquire furs...

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The Founding of Almonte

The sawmill and grist-mill completed here on the Mississippi River in 1823 by Daniel Shipman provided a nucleus around which a community known as Shipman's Mills had developed by 1824. About 1850...

The sawmill and grist-mill completed here on the Mississippi River in 1823 by Daniel Shipman provided a nucleus around which a community known as Shipman's Mills had developed by 1824. About 1850...

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The First Provincial Parliament 1792

On September 17, 1792, John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, opened in this community, then the capital, the first provincial parliament. The legislature consisted of an...

On September 17, 1792, John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, opened in this community, then the capital, the first provincial parliament. The legislature consisted of an...

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Founding of New Liskeard

The Little Clay Belt, the rich agricultural belt extending north from New Liskeard, was originally inhabited by the Algonquin First Nations, including Joachim "Clear Sky" Wabigijic and Angela...

The Little Clay Belt, the rich agricultural belt extending north from New Liskeard, was originally inhabited by the Algonquin First Nations, including Joachim "Clear Sky" Wabigijic and...

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Fighting Island 1838

On the night of February 23-24, 1838, a small force of "Patriots" was ferried from Detroit to Fighting Island, opposite here, whence an attack against Sandwich was planned. They were joined the...

On the night of February 23-24, 1838, a small force of "Patriots" was ferried from Detroit to Fighting Island, opposite here, whence an attack against Sandwich was planned. They were joined...

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The Founding of Bolton

In 1821 George Bolton, an English immigrant purchased 80 ha of land here on the Humber River. Two years later in partnership with his uncle, James Bolton, one of Albion Township's earliest...

In 1821 George Bolton, an English immigrant purchased 80 ha of land here on the Humber River. Two years later in partnership with his uncle, James Bolton, one of Albion Township's...

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Former Brockville Post Office

Completed in 1886 this structure was designed under the direction of Thomas Fuller, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works from 1881 to 1896. The Brockville Post Office shows the...

Completed in 1886 this structure was designed under the direction of Thomas Fuller, Chief Architect of the Department of Public Works from 1881 to 1896. The Brockville Post Office shows...

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Fort Erie

Three fortifications occupied this site. The first (1764-1779) and second (c. 1783-1803), located at lower levels, were abandoned when ice and water inundated the works. The third Fort Erie, built...

Three fortifications occupied this site. The first (1764-1779) and second (c. 1783-1803), located at lower levels, were abandoned when ice and water inundated the works. The third Fort Erie,...

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The Founding of Shelburne

Settlement of Melancthon Township began in the late 1840's and coincided with the construction of the Toronto-Sydenham Road. By the 1860's settlers had moved into the Shelburne area and in 1865...

Settlement of Melancthon Township began in the late 1840's and coincided with the construction of the Toronto-Sydenham Road. By the 1860's settlers had moved into the Shelburne area and in...

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Founding of Carleton Place

The families of Edmond Morphy and William Moore became in 1819 the first settlers on the site of Carleton Place. About 1822 Hugh Boulton built a mill here on the Mississippi River which provided...

The families of Edmond Morphy and William Moore became in 1819 the first settlers on the site of Carleton Place. About 1822 Hugh Boulton built a mill here on the Mississippi River which...

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Founding of Hallowell

Here, on a secure harbour at the head of Picton Bay, several roads converged during the 1790's, including a portage to Lake Ontario. It thus became a natural shipping and distribution centre for...

Here, on a secure harbour at the head of Picton Bay, several roads converged during the 1790's, including a portage to Lake Ontario. It thus became a natural shipping and distribution centre for...

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