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:

Bide A Wee

  Located on the Bide A Wee building at 410 E. 38th St in Manhattan, this plaque caught my eye as I walked past. Loyalty, devotion, forgiveness, humor. Sculptor-Laura Cardin. The first woman to...

  Located on the Bide A Wee building at 410 E. 38th St in Manhattan, this plaque caught my eye as I walked past. Loyalty, devotion, forgiveness, humor. Sculptor-Laura Cardin. The first woman...

  • cardin
  • dogs
  • medal
  • pets
  • sculpture
  • new york

Robert Fergusson, Scots Poet

The inscription on the ground reads, “Robert Fergusson Scots Poet Born in Edinburgh 1750 Died in Bedlam 1774″ There is a statue outside the Kirk of the Canongate, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the...

The inscription on the ground reads, “Robert Fergusson Scots Poet Born in Edinburgh 1750 Died in Bedlam 1774″ There is a statue outside the Kirk of the Canongate, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on...

  • edinburgh
  • poet
  • robert fergusson
  • scotland
  • scots poet
  • scottish enl...

Surfing Was First Brought Here by Hawaiian Princes

SURFING WAS FIRST BROUGHT HERE BY HAWAIIAN PRINCES DURING THE SUMMER OF 1885, THREE YOUNG HAWAIIAN PRINCES RODE THE WAVES AT THE MOUTH OF THE SAN LORENZO RIVER ON REDWOOD PLANKS THEY ORDERED CUT...

SURFING WAS FIRST BROUGHT HERE BY HAWAIIAN PRINCES DURING THE SUMMER OF 1885, THREE YOUNG HAWAIIAN PRINCES RODE THE WAVES AT THE MOUTH OF THE SAN LORENZO RIVER ON REDWOOD PLANKS THEY ORDERED...

  • surfing
  • california
  • santa cruz
  • museum
  • hawaii
  • prince

King Cole

The Expo came to Spokane, Wash. because of a man with the fabulous name of King Cole. Although he passed, his legacy lives on through Riverfront Park and the current push to honor his vision by...

The Expo came to Spokane, Wash. because of a man with the fabulous name of King Cole. Although he passed, his legacy lives on through Riverfront Park and the current push to honor his vision...

  • spokanerising expo74

Wreck at the Fat Nancy

Here, on 12 July 1888, occurred one of Virginia’s largest train disasters, the wreck of the Virginia Midland Railroad’s Train 52, the Piedmont Airline, as it crossed the 44-foot-high,...

Here, on 12 July 1888, occurred one of Virginia’s largest train disasters, the wreck of the Virginia Midland Railroad’s Train 52, the Piedmont Airline, as it crossed the 44-foot-high,...

  • train
  • virginia
  • wreck

Mt. Tabor Volcano

Mt. Tabor in Portland ORText: Through the fiery throat of the volcano exploded glowing cinders which, cooling formed the ground on which you now stand. Younger than the hundreds of volcanoes which...

Mt. Tabor in Portland ORText: Through the fiery throat of the volcano exploded glowing cinders which, cooling formed the ground on which you now stand. Younger than the hundreds of volcanoes which...

  • geology
  • mountains
  • volcano

Geocenter of the USA

Outside the visitor center in the sleep town of Belle Fourche, SD (at the corner of Canam Hwy and Faulk St) lies a plaque and an associate monument, it reads:“Welcome to Belle Fourche. The geo...

Outside the visitor center in the sleep town of Belle Fourche, SD (at the corner of Canam Hwy and Faulk St) lies a plaque and an associate monument, it reads:“Welcome to Belle Fourche. The geo...

  • belle fourche

Savoy Theatre Electric Lighting

Walking down a small side street (Carting Lane) down the side of the Savoy Theatre in central London, you glance to your left a see a small green plaque on the wall which points out that the Savoy...

Walking down a small side street (Carting Lane) down the side of the Savoy Theatre in central London, you glance to your left a see a small green plaque on the wall which points out that the Savoy...

  • electric lighting
  • savoy theatre

Birthplace of the Statue of Liberty

Transcription:Cette plaque commémorative offerte par monsieur Milt Forrest au mon du peuple Américain a été inaugurée le 23 mai 1960 sous le haut patronage de son excellence monsieur l’ambassadeur...

Transcription:Cette plaque commémorative offerte par monsieur Milt Forrest au mon du peuple Américain a été inaugurée le 23 mai 1960 sous le haut patronage de son excellence monsieur l’ambassadeur...

  • 1886
  • milt forrest
  • paris
  • statue of liberty

Aeroexpress Floatplane Station

“The floatplane station of Aeroexpress Ltd. operated stood here from 1923 to 1926. Flights to Wien and Lake Balaton took off from the station. Its most famous pilot, our subsequent ocean flier,...

“The floatplane station of Aeroexpress Ltd. operated stood here from 1923 to 1926. Flights to Wien and Lake Balaton took off from the station. Its most famous pilot, our subsequent ocean...

  • budapest
  • flight
  • floatplane

Angel Island, San Francisco Bay

  Greeting plaque on Angel Island in Ayala Cove. ANGEL ISLAND IN 1775 THE PACKET SHIP SAN CARLOS, FIRST KNOWN SPANISH SHIP TO ENTER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AN- CHORED IN THIS COVE WHILE HER COMMANDER,...

  Greeting plaque on Angel Island in Ayala Cove. ANGEL ISLAND IN 1775 THE PACKET SHIP SAN CARLOS, FIRST KNOWN SPANISH SHIP TO ENTER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AN- CHORED IN THIS COVE WHILE HER...

  • angel island
  • bay area
  • san carlos
  • san francisco

You are now entering the Dinosaur Forest

  This plaque / sign simply reads YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE DINOSAUR FOREST It is on the Ohlone Greenway where it crosses Schmidt Lane in El Cerrito CA 94530. Here is a google maps link: I have...

  This plaque / sign simply reads YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE DINOSAUR FOREST It is on the Ohlone Greenway where it crosses Schmidt Lane in El Cerrito CA 94530. Here is a google maps link: I have...

  • bike lane
  • dinosaurs

Charles H. Graham

 TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES H. GRAHAM FOR HIS UNTIRING EFFORTS AND SUPPORT OF BASEBALL DEDICATED BY SUNSET POST 400   THE AMERICAN LEGIONCITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO HONORABLE ELMER E. ROBINSON,...

 TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES H. GRAHAM FOR HIS UNTIRING EFFORTS AND SUPPORT OF BASEBALL DEDICATED BY SUNSET POST 400   THE AMERICAN LEGIONCITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO HONORABLE ELMER E. ROBINSON,...

  • baseball
  • san francisco
  • bay area
  • california

Clayton playground

    Robert W. Service

    Robert W. Service 1874 – 1958 Poet and Author, whose writing spread the fame of the Yukon, was a teller at this branch in 1908 and 1909. — His first poems, including “The Shooting of Dan McGrew,”...

    Robert W. Service 1874 – 1958 Poet and Author, whose writing spread the fame of the Yukon, was a teller at this branch in 1908 and 1909. — His first poems, including “The Shooting of Dan McGrew,”...

    • yukon poet c...

    The Camels of Fort Tejon

      A more newer, more detailed plaque from 2003 (see http://readtheplaque.com/713) “The Camels of Fort Tejon” In 1856 the US Army started an experiment using camel (sic) for supply transport in the...

      A more newer, more detailed plaque from 2003 (see http://readtheplaque.com/713) “The Camels of Fort Tejon” In 1856 the US Army started an experiment using camel (sic) for supply transport in the...

    • camels
    • tejon pass
    • california
    • los angeles
    • ecv

    Fort Tejon Camel Brigade

    One of three plaques commemorating the Camel Brigade of Fort Tejon, in Tejon Pass in Lebec, CA. Plaque reads “The first and only ‘Camel Brigade’ of the United States Army, commanded by Lt. Edward...

    One of three plaques commemorating the Camel Brigade of Fort Tejon, in Tejon Pass in Lebec, CA. Plaque reads “The first and only ‘Camel Brigade’ of the United States Army, commanded by Lt....

    • camels
    • tejon pass

    Standard Time System in the United States

      Located on the northeast corner of LaSalle and Jackson, Chicago, on the south side of the building. “Chicago’s famous Grand Pacific Hotel, then on the site of the present Continental Bank...

      Located on the northeast corner of LaSalle and Jackson, Chicago, on the south side of the building. “Chicago’s famous Grand Pacific Hotel, then on the site of the present Continental...

    • chicago
    • clocks
    • railroads
    • time

    David H. Miller Working Museum

    The plaque is located in the working museum which contains the lift works for the Duquesne Incline, in Pittsburg PA. 40.438282, -80.018804 Dedicated to David Miller and his vision of the...

    The plaque is located in the working museum which contains the lift works for the Duquesne Incline, in Pittsburg PA. 40.438282, -80.018804 Dedicated to David Miller and his vision of the...

    • david miller
    • duquesne incline
    • pittsburg

    USMC World Headquarters, c. 1902

    This plaque is in front of the Cummings Center in Beverly, MA. The massive complex was known as “The Shoe” for many, many years. Rough GPS location is 42.556744, -70.888308.Transcription: Once the...

    This plaque is in front of the Cummings Center in Beverly, MA. The massive complex was known as “The Shoe” for many, many years. Rough GPS location is 42.556744, -70.888308.Transcription: Once...

    • beverly
    • el ransome
    • massachusetts
    • reinforced concrete
    • the shoe
    • usmc world h...