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

District Court-House and Gaol 1825

In 1816 the Ottawa District was established and the Courts of Quarter Session, which at that time possessed local administrative as well as judicial authority, were held in the Township of...

In 1816 the Ottawa District was established and the Courts of Quarter Session, which at that time possessed local administrative as well as judicial authority, were held in the Township of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Dr. Mahlon W. Locke 1880-1942

Born in nearby Matilda township, Locke studied medicine at Queen's University and in Scotland. In 1908 he opened his medical office in this house. Interested in arthritis, which he believed was...

Born in nearby Matilda township, Locke studied medicine at Queen's University and in Scotland. In 1908 he opened his medical office in this house. Interested in arthritis, which he believed...

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Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott 1837-1913

Anderson Ruffin Abbott was born in Toronto in 1837. His parents, Wilson and Ellen Toyer Abbott, were free people of colour who came to Canada in 1835 in pursuit of economic advancement and social...

Anderson Ruffin Abbott was born in Toronto in 1837. His parents, Wilson and Ellen Toyer Abbott, were free people of colour who came to Canada in 1835 in pursuit of economic advancement and...

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  • alan brown

De Troyes Expedition 1686

In March 1686, the Governor of New France, intent on protecting his colony's fur trade interests, sent an expedition from Montreal under command of Pierre Chevalier de Troyes to attack the...

In March 1686, the Governor of New France, intent on protecting his colony's fur trade interests, sent an expedition from Montreal under command of Pierre Chevalier de Troyes to attack the...

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Diamond Jenness 1886-1969

Diamond Jenness was born in New Zealand and educated there and at Oxford. After field work in New Guinea he joined the 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition, embarking on a career that made him the dean...

Diamond Jenness was born in New Zealand and educated there and at Oxford. After field work in New Guinea he joined the 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition, embarking on a career that made him the dean...

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  • alan brown

David Mills 1831-1903

Born in Orford, Upper Canada, Mills served as Superintendent of Schools for Kent County (1856-65) before entering federal politics. He represented Bothwell in the House of Commons from 1867 until...

Born in Orford, Upper Canada, Mills served as Superintendent of Schools for Kent County (1856-65) before entering federal politics. He represented Bothwell in the House of Commons from 1867 until...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Dr. Charles Duncombe 1791-1867

This house was built in 1848 by Dr. Elijah Duncombe, brother of Dr. Charles Duncombe. The latter, born in Connecticut, came to Upper Canada in 1819 and settled on this property shortly thereafter....

This house was built in 1848 by Dr. Elijah Duncombe, brother of Dr. Charles Duncombe. The latter, born in Connecticut, came to Upper Canada in 1819 and settled on this property shortly thereafter....

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Discovery of the Sudbury Nickel Deposits

The significance of Sudbury's mineral deposits became apparent during construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the area in the 1880s. Blacksmith Tom Flanagan, and others, took samples...

The significance of Sudbury's mineral deposits became apparent during construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the area in the 1880s. Blacksmith Tom Flanagan, and others, took samples...

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  • alan brown

Chief Francis Pegahmagabow 1889-1952

Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwe of the Caribou clan, was born in Shawanaga First Nation. He volunteered at the onset of the First World War and served overseas as a scout and sniper with the...

Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwe of the Caribou clan, was born in Shawanaga First Nation. He volunteered at the onset of the First World War and served overseas as a scout and sniper with...

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  • alan brown

The Central Emergency Government Headquarters

Irreverently known as the "Diefenbunker," this structure is a powerful symbol of Canada's response to the Cold War. Designed in the 1950s to withstand all but a direct hit by a nuclear weapon, it...

Irreverently known as the "Diefenbunker," this structure is a powerful symbol of Canada's response to the Cold War. Designed in the 1950s to withstand all but a direct hit by a nuclear weapon, it...

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Charles Edward Poulett Thomson Baron Sydenham 1799-1841

Thomson, a British businessman and politician, was sent to North America to implement the Union of the Canadas. Having won assent for the union in 1840, he was elevated to the peerage and served...

Thomson, a British businessman and politician, was sent to North America to implement the Union of the Canadas. Having won assent for the union in 1840, he was elevated to the peerage and served...

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Captain George Fraser Kerr, V.C., M.C., M.M. 1895-1929

Born at Deseronto, Kerr attended schools here and in Toronto. With the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted on September 22, 1914 with the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force and...

Born at Deseronto, Kerr attended schools here and in Toronto. With the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted on September 22, 1914 with the 3rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force...

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Catharine Parr Traill 1802-1899

Born in London, Catherine Strickland married Lieutenant Thomas Traill in 1832 and emigrated to Upper Canada, settling in Douro Township and subsequently at Lakefield. A writer of children's...

Born in London, Catherine Strickland married Lieutenant Thomas Traill in 1832 and emigrated to Upper Canada, settling in Douro Township and subsequently at Lakefield. A writer of...

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The Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway

Impressive for its immense scale, organizational complexity, and speedy completion, the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway from 1954 to 1959 was an outstanding engineering achievement. This...

Impressive for its immense scale, organizational complexity, and speedy completion, the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway from 1954 to 1959 was an outstanding engineering achievement. This...

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Campbell's Raid 1814

On May 14, 1814, about 800 American regulars and militia under Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell disembarked nearby at the mouth of the Lynn River. The following day, meeting no opposition, they...

On May 14, 1814, about 800 American regulars and militia under Lieutenant-Colonel John Campbell disembarked nearby at the mouth of the Lynn River. The following day, meeting no opposition,...

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Christ Church, Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk

This handsome church attests to the remarkable historic alliance of the Mohawk people with the Crown. Loyal Mohawks, who sacrificed much in their support of the British cause, came here after the...

This handsome church attests to the remarkable historic alliance of the Mohawk people with the Crown. Loyal Mohawks, who sacrificed much in their support of the British cause, came here after...

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Colonel Edward Jessup 1735-1816

Born in Stamford, Connecticut, he forfeited 202,000 ha near Albany, New York, by taking up arms for the King on the outbreak of the American Revolution. He raised the Loyal (Jessup's) Rangers and...

Born in Stamford, Connecticut, he forfeited 202,000 ha near Albany, New York, by taking up arms for the King on the outbreak of the American Revolution. He raised the Loyal (Jessup's) Rangers and...

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The Coming of the Mohawks

Commemorating the arrival here on 22nd of May, 1784, under the leadership of Chiefs, John Deserontyou, Aaron Hill, and Isaac Hill, of a band of Loyal Mohawks, one of the Nations of the Iroquois...

Commemorating the arrival here on 22nd of May, 1784, under the leadership of Chiefs, John Deserontyou, Aaron Hill, and Isaac Hill, of a band of Loyal Mohawks, one of the Nations of the Iroquois...

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  • alan brown

Charles Mair, 1838-1927

Journalist, poet, advocate of western expansion, and an original member of the Canada First movement, Mair was born at Lanark, Upper Canada. A controversial figure during the Red River uprising...

Journalist, poet, advocate of western expansion, and an original member of the Canada First movement, Mair was born at Lanark, Upper Canada. A controversial figure during the Red River...

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  • alan brown

Canada's First Polish Settlement

The first group of Polish immigrants to Canada, some 300 in number, established a settlement in this area in 1864. Adverse social conditions and political unrest in their partitioned homeland had...

The first group of Polish immigrants to Canada, some 300 in number, established a settlement in this area in 1864. Adverse social conditions and political unrest in their partitioned homeland...

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  • alan brown