A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
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The most recent plaques:

Sir Sandford Fleming 1827-1915

Engineer and an ardent imperialist, Fleming was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. In 1845 he came to Canada, where he became survey and construction engineer for the Intercolonial Railway (1863-76) and...

Engineer and an ardent imperialist, Fleming was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. In 1845 he came to Canada, where he became survey and construction engineer for the Intercolonial Railway (1863-76) and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Paul's Church

In 1828 Richard Duncan Fraser, the son of an early Loyalist settler, Thomas Fraser, donated land here for the building of a church to serve the Anglicans in this area. Their minister, the Reverend...

In 1828 Richard Duncan Fraser, the son of an early Loyalist settler, Thomas Fraser, donated land here for the building of a church to serve the Anglicans in this area. Their minister, the Reverend...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Stephen Butler Leacock 1869-1944

This internationally-known author and humorist is buried in the churchyard. Born in Swanmore, Hampshire, England, Leacock came with his family to this township in 1876. Graduating from the...

This internationally-known author and humorist is buried in the churchyard. Born in Swanmore, Hampshire, England, Leacock came with his family to this township in 1876. Graduating from...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Smiths Falls Bascule Bridge

This Scherzer Rolling Lift bascule bridge is an outstanding early example of a novel concept in movable bridges, developed by William Scherzer, an American engineer. It combines the balanced...

This Scherzer Rolling Lift bascule bridge is an outstanding early example of a novel concept in movable bridges, developed by William Scherzer, an American engineer. It combines the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew's Church

This building, the oldest remaining stone structure in the province erected as a church, was completed about 1801. Many of the pioneer settlers in this area were Roman Catholic Highlanders,...

This building, the oldest remaining stone structure in the province erected as a church, was completed about 1801. Many of the pioneer settlers in this area were Roman Catholic...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Byron Edmund Walker, C.V.O., LL.D., D.C.L. 1848-1924

Born in Haldimand County, Walker joined the new Canadian Bank of Commerce at an early age, transforming it into one of Canada's leading financial institutions. He helped to author the Bank Act,...

Born in Haldimand County, Walker joined the new Canadian Bank of Commerce at an early age, transforming it into one of Canada's leading financial institutions. He helped to author the Bank Act,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Samuel Thomas Greene 1843-1890

Samuel Greene was the first deaf teacher to teach deaf children in the Ontario school system. An American by birth, he was educated at the National Deaf-Mute College, now Gallaudet University, in...

Samuel Greene was the first deaf teacher to teach deaf children in the Ontario school system. An American by birth, he was educated at the National Deaf-Mute College, now Gallaudet University,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir William James Gage 1849-1921

Born near Brampton, educated there and at the Toronto Normal School, Gage taught for a time and studied medicine for a year before joining, in 1874, the publishing house of Adam Miller and Co. In...

Born near Brampton, educated there and at the Toronto Normal School, Gage taught for a time and studied medicine for a year before joining, in 1874, the publishing house of Adam Miller and Co. In...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Stephen Butler Leacock 1869-1944

Born in England, Leacock was educated at Upper Canada College and at the Universities of Toronto and Chicago. He spent the greater part of his career at McGill, teaching and publishing in the...

Born in England, Leacock was educated at Upper Canada College and at the Universities of Toronto and Chicago. He spent the greater part of his career at McGill, teaching and publishing in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew's Church 1812

Following the organization of a Presbyterian congregation in 1787, a log church was erected here and replaced in 1806 by a stone structure. The present church was begun in 1812. Its bell was...

Following the organization of a Presbyterian congregation in 1787, a log church was erected here and replaced in 1806 by a stone structure. The present church was begun in 1812. Its bell...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sergeant Frederick Hobson, VC 1873-1917

An Englishman, Frederick Hobson emigrated to Canada in 1904 after serving in the South African War. Eight years later, he moved to Galt (now Cambridge) with his family. When war broke out in 1914,...

An Englishman, Frederick Hobson emigrated to Canada in 1904 after serving in the South African War. Eight years later, he moved to Galt (now Cambridge) with his family. When war broke out in 1914,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Peter's Church 1827

A fine example of early Gothic Revival architecture, this Anglican church lies in the midst of the original "Talbot Settlement." The nave was erected by the congregation in 1827. The belfry and...

A fine example of early Gothic Revival architecture, this Anglican church lies in the midst of the original "Talbot Settlement." The nave was erected by the congregation in 1827. The belfry and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir John Alexander Macdonald (1815-1891)

This Kingston lawyer was the chief architect of Confederation, which led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada on July 1st, 1867. He was Canada's first Prime Minister and led the country for...

This Kingston lawyer was the chief architect of Confederation, which led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada on July 1st, 1867. He was Canada's first Prime Minister and led the country for...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir William Pearce Howland 1811-1907

The only American born Father of Confederation, Sir William P. Howland was a native of Paulings, N.Y. and in 1830 settled in Cooksville. In the 1840's his extensive business interests became...

The only American born Father of Confederation, Sir William P. Howland was a native of Paulings, N.Y. and in 1830 settled in Cooksville. In the 1840's his extensive business interests...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Paul's 1785 H.M. Chapel of the Mohawks

This chapel, the first Protestant church in Ontario, was built by the Crown for the Mohawks of the Six Nations Iroquois who settled here in 1794. It replaced the Queen Anne Chapel (1712) at Fort...

This chapel, the first Protestant church in Ontario, was built by the Crown for the Mohawks of the Six Nations Iroquois who settled here in 1794. It replaced the Queen Anne Chapel (1712) at...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Stratford City Hall

Stratford's spacious civic square has been the site of the city's municipal buildings since 1857. Construction began on the present city hall after the destruction of the first town hall and...

Stratford's spacious civic square has been the site of the city's municipal buildings since 1857. Construction began on the present city hall after the destruction of the first town hall and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Sam Steele

Born near Orillia, in 1851, an original member of the N.W.M.P., 1873, Superintendent, 1885-1903, Steele played an important role in establishing order in Western Canada, holding commands...

Born near Orillia, in 1851, an original member of the N.W.M.P., 1873, Superintendent, 1885-1903, Steele played an important role in establishing order in Western Canada, holding...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir James Pliny Whitney 1843-1914

Born in Williamsburg and educated at the Cornwall Grammar School, Whitney was called to the Bar in 1876. He was elected to the legislative assembly as Conservative member for Dundas in 1888. A...

Born in Williamsburg and educated at the Cornwall Grammar School, Whitney was called to the Bar in 1876. He was elected to the legislative assembly as Conservative member for Dundas in 1888. A...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. James-on-the- Lines 1836

This garrison church was erected 1836-38 on the Penetanguishene military reserve. It was also attended by military pensioners and civilians since, until the 1870's, it housed the only Protestant...

This garrison church was erected 1836-38 on the Penetanguishene military reserve. It was also attended by military pensioners and civilians since, until the 1870's, it housed the only Protestant...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Schooner Town

The Nottawasaga River formed part of a transportation link between Lake Ontario and the Upper Great Lakes which became a vitally important supply route to British Western posts during the War of...

The Nottawasaga River formed part of a transportation link between Lake Ontario and the Upper Great Lakes which became a vitally important supply route to British Western posts during the War of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown