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

St. Andrew's Anglican Church

On this land donated by Robert Nelles, United Empire Loyalist, the pioneers of this community built a log church in 1794. It was replaced by a frame structure which was completed by 1804. The...

On this land donated by Robert Nelles, United Empire Loyalist, the pioneers of this community built a log church in 1794. It was replaced by a frame structure which was completed by 1804....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sainte-Anne des Pins

An important centre of the Roman Catholic Church in northeastern Ontario, Saint-Anne des Pins was established as a mission by Jesuits in 1883. A log church, now the presbytery, was built to serve...

An important centre of the Roman Catholic Church in northeastern Ontario, Saint-Anne des Pins was established as a mission by Jesuits in 1883. A log church, now the presbytery, was built to serve...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Summerhill 1839

This house, built in 1839 by Archdeacon George Okill Stuart, was known as "Okill's Folly." When the Province of Canada's first parliament met in the nearby hospital, the members were housed in...

This house, built in 1839 by Archdeacon George Okill Stuart, was known as "Okill's Folly." When the Province of Canada's first parliament met in the nearby hospital, the members were housed...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir John Harvey 1778-1852

From these heights, Lieutenant-Colonel John Harvey set out with about 700 men on the night of June 5, 1813, to launch a surprise attack on an invading United States force of some 3,000 men camped...

From these heights, Lieutenant-Colonel John Harvey set out with about 700 men on the night of June 5, 1813, to launch a surprise attack on an invading United States force of some 3,000 men camped...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Paul's Church 1834

This church was completed in 1834 shortly after the founding of the community. It was financed through the efforts of Admiral Henry Vansittart and constructed under the direction of his agent,...

This church was completed in 1834 shortly after the founding of the community. It was financed through the efforts of Admiral Henry Vansittart and constructed under the direction of his...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Siege of Detroit 1763

Shortly after the founding of Detroit in 1701 a village of Ottawa Indians was established on the south shore of the river in this vicinity, and its inhabitants lived on friendly terms with the...

Shortly after the founding of Detroit in 1701 a village of Ottawa Indians was established on the south shore of the river in this vicinity, and its inhabitants lived on friendly terms with...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir George William Ross 1841-1914

Born in Middlesex County, Ross was a teacher and school inspector before entering law and politics. Having represented West Middlesex as a Liberal member of the House of Commons (1872-83), he...

Born in Middlesex County, Ross was a teacher and school inspector before entering law and politics. Having represented West Middlesex as a Liberal member of the House of Commons (1872-83),...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir William C. Van Horne 1843-1915

Born in Chelsea, Illinois, Van Horne, after a brilliant career with a number of railway companies in the mid-western United States, accepted the position of general manager of the Canadian Pacific...

Born in Chelsea, Illinois, Van Horne, after a brilliant career with a number of railway companies in the mid-western United States, accepted the position of general manager of the Canadian Pacific...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Silver Mining in Canada

Silver has been an important mineral product for Canada's economy ever since the Cobalt boom which followed the discovery of rich veins of the metal near here in 1903. Although the production of...

Silver has been an important mineral product for Canada's economy ever since the Cobalt boom which followed the discovery of rich veins of the metal near here in 1903. Although the production of...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir William Mackenzie 1849-1923

Born near here, Mackenzie became a successful local merchant and contractor on Ontario railways. He built this house in 1888. After 1886, with associates, he obtained major construction contracts...

Born near here, Mackenzie became a successful local merchant and contractor on Ontario railways. He built this house in 1888. After 1886, with associates, he obtained major construction contracts...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Seigneury of L'Orignal

This area, the present township of Longueuil, was granted in 1674 to François Prevost, Town Mayor of Quebec, and was the first seigneury in what is now Ontario. Known originally as the seigneury...

This area, the present township of Longueuil, was granted in 1674 to François Prevost, Town Mayor of Quebec, and was the first seigneury in what is now Ontario. Known originally as the seigneury...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The St. Clair Tunnel

This was the first subaqueous tunnel in North America and one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century. Built in 1889-1891 to link the Canadian mainline of the Grand Trunk Railway with...

This was the first subaqueous tunnel in North America and one of the great engineering feats of the 19th century. Built in 1889-1891 to link the Canadian mainline of the Grand Trunk Railway...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Silver Islet 1868

Off this shore lies Silver Islet, once a barren rock measuring about 25 metres in diameter, where silver was discovered in 1868 by Thomas Macfarlane. The claim was purchased in 1870 by a company...

Off this shore lies Silver Islet, once a barren rock measuring about 25 metres in diameter, where silver was discovered in 1868 by Thomas Macfarlane. The claim was purchased in 1870 by a company...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Six Nations

Commemorating the loyal services and unswerving fidelity of the Six Nations of Iroquois Indians to the British Empire in the Seven Years War, the War of the American Revolution, and in the defence...

Commemorating the loyal services and unswerving fidelity of the Six Nations of Iroquois Indians to the British Empire in the Seven Years War, the War of the American Revolution, and in the defence...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Slomans and the CNR School on Wheels

In 1922 veteran educator J.B. MacDougall urged the provincial government to establish railway car schools to serve residents of Northern Ontario's outlying regions. Four years later two cars, the...

In 1922 veteran educator J.B. MacDougall urged the provincial government to establish railway car schools to serve residents of Northern Ontario's outlying regions. Four years later two cars,...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir William Buell Richards 1815-1889

Born at Brockville and called to the bar of Upper Canada in 1837, Richards represented Leeds in the Legislative Assembly (1848-53) and served as Attorney General for Canada West in the...

Born at Brockville and called to the bar of Upper Canada in 1837, Richards represented Leeds in the Legislative Assembly (1848-53) and served as Attorney General for Canada West in the...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Charles Bagot 1781-1843

Born in Staffordshire, Bagot commenced a distinguished career in the diplomatic service of Great Britain in 1807. As ambassador to the United States he signed the important Rush-Bagot Convention...

Born in Staffordshire, Bagot commenced a distinguished career in the diplomatic service of Great Britain in 1807. As ambassador to the United States he signed the important Rush-Bagot Convention...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Charles Edward Saunders 1867-1937

Born at London, educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins, Saunders was Dominion Cerealist at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa (1903-22), and there, in 1904, developed the famous Marquis wheat which was...

Born at London, educated at Toronto and Johns Hopkins, Saunders was Dominion Cerealist at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa (1903-22), and there, in 1904, developed the famous Marquis wheat which...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty 1877-1943

Born in Thorold, Beatty attended the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall. In 1898, he joined the legal department of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in Montreal and became the company's first...

Born in Thorold, Beatty attended the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall. In 1898, he joined the legal department of Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in Montreal and became the company's...

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  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir John Alexander Macdonald 1815-1891

From this soil, home of the Loyalists, he drew inspiration to weld together the weak and scattered colonies of his day into a strong and ambitious Dominion, equal partner in the far-flung British...

From this soil, home of the Loyalists, he drew inspiration to weld together the weak and scattered colonies of his day into a strong and ambitious Dominion, equal partner in the far-flung British...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown