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

Alma College

In response to a petition from a provisional Board of Management appointed in 1876, the Ontario Government granted a charter the following year for the erection of a ladies' college in St. Thomas....

In response to a petition from a provisional Board of Management appointed in 1876, the Ontario Government granted a charter the following year for the erection of a ladies' college in St. Thomas....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Archibald McKellar MacMechan 1862-1933

Born in Berlin (Kitchener) and educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins Universities, MacMechan served as professor of English at Dalhousie from 1889 until his death. Book critic for the Montreal...

Born in Berlin (Kitchener) and educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins Universities, MacMechan served as professor of English at Dalhousie from 1889 until his death. Book critic for the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Aurora Armoury

Built in 1874 as a drill shed for the 12th Battalion of Infantry or York Rangers, the Aurora Armoury was part of a network of defence training facilities for citizen soldiers. It evokes the larger...

Built in 1874 as a drill shed for the 12th Battalion of Infantry or York Rangers, the Aurora Armoury was part of a network of defence training facilities for citizen soldiers. It evokes the larger...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Acting Sergeant John Rennie, G.C. 1919-1943

"Jock" Rennie was awarded the George Cross posthumously in May 1944 for an instinctive, selfless act of heroism. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he came to Ontario with his family as a child and grew...

"Jock" Rennie was awarded the George Cross posthumously in May 1944 for an instinctive, selfless act of heroism. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, he came to Ontario with his family as a child and grew...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

"The Allenford Pow- Wow" 1855

In July, 1855, at nearby "Floodwood Crossing" (now Allenford), representatives of the Ojibwa Indians conferred with government officials at a meeting later called the "Allenford Pow-Wow". The...

In July, 1855, at nearby "Floodwood Crossing" (now Allenford), representatives of the Ojibwa Indians conferred with government officials at a meeting later called the "Allenford Pow-Wow"....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Adam Shortt 1859-1931

Born near London, Shortt studied at Queen's University and in Scotland, later returning to Queen's where he established the department of political economy. A noted teacher, he was an advisor to...

Born near London, Shortt studied at Queen's University and in Scotland, later returning to Queen's where he established the department of political economy. A noted teacher, he was an advisor to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Abel Stevens

Born at Quaker Hill, New York, about 1750, Stevens served as a British agent during the Revolutionary War despite being enrolled in the rebel militia. After the war he lived in Vermont where, as...

Born at Quaker Hill, New York, about 1750, Stevens served as a British agent during the Revolutionary War despite being enrolled in the rebel militia. After the war he lived in Vermont where, as...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Amherstburg Navy Yard

A Navy Yard was built here in 1796 to replace Detroit as the base and supply depot for the Provincial Marine on Lakes Erie and Huron. In 1812 the GENERAL HUNTER and QUEEN CHARLOTTE, built here,...

A Navy Yard was built here in 1796 to replace Detroit as the base and supply depot for the Provincial Marine on Lakes Erie and Huron. In 1812 the GENERAL HUNTER and QUEEN CHARLOTTE, built here,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Aimee Semple McPherson 1890-1944

The celebrated evangelist and faith healer Aimee (Kennedy) McPherson was born on a farm west of here. She led revivalist meetings in Ontario in 1915-16 and then barnstormed the United States,...

The celebrated evangelist and faith healer Aimee (Kennedy) McPherson was born on a farm west of here. She led revivalist meetings in Ontario in 1915-16 and then barnstormed the United...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Arthur Sturgis Hardy

Provincial Secretary of Ontario, 1877-89Commissioner of Crown Lands, 1889-96Premier and Attorney General of the Province, 1896-99Born at Mount Pleasant, 14th December, 1837Died in Toronto, 13th...

Provincial Secretary of Ontario, 1877-89Commissioner of Crown Lands, 1889-96Premier and Attorney General of the Province, 1896-99Born at Mount Pleasant, 14th December, 1837Died in Toronto, 13th...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Acton

Methodist preachers Ezra and Zenas Adams and their brother Rufus settled on the west branch of the Credit River in the 1820s. A community of pioneer families grew around the Adams family farms....

Methodist preachers Ezra and Zenas Adams and their brother Rufus settled on the west branch of the Credit River in the 1820s. A community of pioneer families grew around the Adams family...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oro

Built in 1849, this church is the last vestige of one of the oldest African-Canadian settlements in Upper Canada. Here at Oro, former members of the Loyalist militia from the War of 1812...

Built in 1849, this church is the last vestige of one of the oldest African-Canadian settlements in Upper Canada. Here at Oro, former members of the Loyalist militia from the War of 1812...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill 1855-1935

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill was the founder of the Canadian Navy. Born in Guelph, Ontario, he attended Upper Canada College and in 1869, entered the Royal Navy in Britain. In 1908, he...

Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill was the founder of the Canadian Navy. Born in Guelph, Ontario, he attended Upper Canada College and in 1869, entered the Royal Navy in Britain. In 1908, he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Ann Baillie Building

One of the earliest nurses' residences in Canada, this stately building symbolizes the development and recognition of nursing as a profession. The home was completed in 1904 for students at the...

One of the earliest nurses' residences in Canada, this stately building symbolizes the development and recognition of nursing as a profession. The home was completed in 1904 for students at...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Adelaide Hunter Hoodless 1857-1910

Adelaide Hunter was born in this farm house and lived here until she married John Hoodless in 1881. On February, 19, 1897, she organized at Stoney Creek the world's first Women's Institute. It was...

Adelaide Hunter was born in this farm house and lived here until she married John Hoodless in 1881. On February, 19, 1897, she organized at Stoney Creek the world's first Women's Institute. It was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Anna Jameson 1794-1860

Born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised in London, this famous 19th century author, illustrator and social reformer joined her husband, Robert Jameson, Attorney General of Upper Canada, at Toronto in...

Born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised in London, this famous 19th century author, illustrator and social reformer joined her husband, Robert Jameson, Attorney General of Upper Canada, at Toronto in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Adelaide Hunter Hoodless 1857-1910

Born in Ontario, Adelaide Hoodless sought to release the full potential of women for social action. An outspoken educator and social reformer, she successfully pressed for acceptance of Domestic...

Born in Ontario, Adelaide Hoodless sought to release the full potential of women for social action. An outspoken educator and social reformer, she successfully pressed for acceptance of Domestic...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Alligator Tug

By the late 19th century, Ontario's lumber industry had harvested much of the timber from along its waterways. As lumbering moved further inland, it became increasingly difficult and expensive to...

By the late 19th century, Ontario's lumber industry had harvested much of the timber from along its waterways. As lumbering moved further inland, it became increasingly difficult and expensive to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Associated Country Women of the World

A non-political international women's organization, the Associated Country Women of the World was formed largely through the efforts of Margaret Watt, a Collingwood native. Mrs. Watt was a member...

A non-political international women's organization, the Associated Country Women of the World was formed largely through the efforts of Margaret Watt, a Collingwood native. Mrs. Watt was a member...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Albert College

In 1854 the Methodist Episcopal Church, recognizing the need to improve the training of its clergy, began the construction of a seminary on this site. Designed to accommodate 150 residents with...

In 1854 the Methodist Episcopal Church, recognizing the need to improve the training of its clergy, began the construction of a seminary on this site. Designed to accommodate 150 residents with...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown