A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
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First Land-Grant

Iowa started an education revolution as the first state to accept the 1862 Morrill Act terms. The act allowed Iowa to sell federal land to finance a new college open to all regardless of wealth,...

Iowa started an education revolution as the first state to accept the 1862 Morrill Act terms. The act allowed Iowa to sell federal land to finance a new college open to all regardless of...

    Ellwood Oil Fields and Barnsdall-Rio Grande Gas Station & Restaurant

    ELLWOOD OIL FIELDS The First Oil Well of the Ellwood Oil Field Was Brough in 1000 feet South of this Spot in 1928 by the Barnsdall-Rio Grande Oil Company. It Was Referred to as Luton-Bell Number...

    ELLWOOD OIL FIELDS The First Oil Well of the Ellwood Oil Field Was Brough in 1000 feet South of this Spot in 1928 by the Barnsdall-Rio Grande Oil Company. It Was Referred to as Luton-Bell...

    • goleta
    • california

    Pure Uranium

    In 1942, a group of Iowa State scientists led by professors Frank Spedding and Harley Wilhelm developed the process to produce highly pure uranium. More than 2,000,000 pounds of uranium were...

    In 1942, a group of Iowa State scientists led by professors Frank Spedding and Harley Wilhelm developed the process to produce highly pure uranium. More than 2,000,000 pounds of uranium were...

      Birthplace of the Computer

      The world's first electronic digital computer was built on the Iowa State campus from 1939 through 1942 by John V. Atanasoff, a professor of physics and mathematics, and Clifford Berry, an...

      The world's first electronic digital computer was built on the Iowa State campus from 1939 through 1942 by John V. Atanasoff, a professor of physics and mathematics, and Clifford Berry,...

        First Ag Engineering Degree

        The first agricultural engineering degree in the world was granted at Iowa State University in 1910. J. Brownlee Davidson led the development of the discipline which applied engineering and...

        The first agricultural engineering degree in the world was granted at Iowa State University in 1910. J. Brownlee Davidson led the development of the discipline which applied engineering...

          A Faster Fax

          In 1971, Iowa State electrical engineering doctoral student David Nicholas invented a process to more efficiently convert text into digital information. Facsimile machine manufacturers adopted the...

          In 1971, Iowa State electrical engineering doctoral student David Nicholas invented a process to more efficiently convert text into digital information. Facsimile machine manufacturers adopted the...

            First Veterinary Medicine College

            In 1879, Iowa State University established the first public college of veterinary medicine in the United States. In 1903, Iowa State began offering the nation’s first four-year professional...

            In 1879, Iowa State University established the first public college of veterinary medicine in the United States. In 1903, Iowa State began offering the nation’s first four-year professional...

              First Artist-in- Residence

              Christian Petersen was the first artist-in-residence at a university in the United States when he sculpted at Iowa State from 1934 through 1955. Petersen is becoming recognized as one of the best...

              Christian Petersen was the first artist-in- residence at a university in the United States when he sculpted at Iowa State from 1934 through 1955. Petersen is becoming recognized as one of the best...

                Chemical Analysis Innovation

                "Pioneering work in inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy at Iowa State led to an analysis tool that's standard in thousands of laboratories worldwide. Developed in 1966 by professor and Ames...

                "Pioneering work in inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy at Iowa State led to an analysis tool that's standard in thousands of laboratories worldwide. Developed in 1966 by professor and...

                  Innovative Baler

                  Farmers were saved from the backbreaking chore of slinging hay bales in the 1960s when Iowa State agricultural engineering professor Wesley Buchele and a group of student researchers invented a...

                  Farmers were saved from the backbreaking chore of slinging hay bales in the 1960s when Iowa State agricultural engineering professor Wesley Buchele and a group of student researchers invented...

                    First Land-Grant Home Economics College

                    In 1871, Iowa State became the first land-grant institution in the nation to teach "domestic science." In 1872, Mary B. Welch, wife of Iowa State President Adonijah Welch, became the first...

                    In 1871, Iowa State became the first land-grant institution in the nation to teach "domestic science." In 1872, Mary B. Welch, wife of Iowa State President Adonijah Welch, became the...

                      Birthplace of Cooperative Extension

                      In 1903, the nation's first cooperative agricultural extension program was launched when Iowa State professor Perry Holden, a group of farmers in Sioux County, and the county's board of...

                      In 1903, the nation's first cooperative agricultural extension program was launched when Iowa State professor Perry Holden, a group of farmers in Sioux County, and the county's board...

                        World's Hardiest Roses

                        Revered by rose lovers, legendary Iowa State University horticulturist Griffith Buck developed more than 90 rose varieties from the late 1940s to his retirement in 1985. His roses are considered...

                        Revered by rose lovers, legendary Iowa State University horticulturist Griffith Buck developed more than 90 rose varieties from the late 1940s to his retirement in 1985. His roses are...

                          Finest Blue Cheese

                          Iowa State is home to the process that produces the world's finest blue cheese. In 1937, Iowa State dairy microbiology professors Clarence Lane and Bernard Hammer developed a blue cheese process...

                          Iowa State is home to the process that produces the world's finest blue cheese. In 1937, Iowa State dairy microbiology professors Clarence Lane and Bernard Hammer developed a blue cheese...

                            First Water Tower West of the Mississippi

                            The 168-foot-tall Marston Water Tower was the first elevated steel water tank west of the Mississippi River when it was erected in 1897. It is named for Anson Marston, Iowa State's first...

                            The 168-foot-tall Marston Water Tower was the first elevated steel water tank west of the Mississippi River when it was erected in 1897. It is named for Anson Marston, Iowa State's...

                              Fremont Peak Memorial

                              Fremont Peak Memorial The American flag was first raised on California soil March 4, 1846 on this spot by General John C. Fremont Placed by Native Daughters of the Golden West San Juan Bautista...

                              Fremont Peak Memorial The American flag was first raised on California soil March 4, 1846 on this spot by General John C. Fremont Placed by Native Daughters of the Golden West San Juan...

                              • fremont
                              • civil war
                              • flag
                              • california

                              Alta Bates Hospital

                              Alta Bates Hospital Founded 1905 by Miss Alta A. M. Bates Nurse * Teacher * Humanitarian  Dedication 1975 Site of a Time Capsule Perpetuating Alta Bates' Concern for Care Submitted by @jqmcd 

                              Alta Bates Hospital Founded 1905 by Miss Alta A. M. Bates Nurse * Teacher * Humanitarian  Dedication 1975 Site of a Time Capsule Perpetuating Alta Bates' Concern for Care Submitted by @jqmcd 

                              • berkeley
                              • california
                              • bay area
                              • hospital
                              • bates
                              • 1905
                              • time capsule

                              Description of motivation behind topiaries

                              Four topiaries depicting dancers are stationed at the entrances (two for each) of the seminar room at the Horizon Village Resort, Chiang Mai. This plaque appears on two of the topiaries; the other...

                              Four topiaries depicting dancers are stationed at the entrances (two for each) of the seminar room at the Horizon Village Resort, Chiang Mai. This plaque appears on two of the topiaries; the...

                              • topiary
                              • artist
                              • dancer
                              • thailand

                              Sidney Rudy Waterfront Park

                              SIDNEY RUDY WATERFRONT PARK DEDICATED FEBRUARY 26, 1981

                              SIDNEY RUDY WATERFRONT PARK DEDICATED FEBRUARY 26, 1981

                              • san francisco
                              • bay area
                              • california
                              • park

                              The Bay Trail

                              THE BAY TRAIL  The San Francisco Bay Train, a 400-mile network, provides public access to the Bay shoreline not possible since the Gold Rush. It was State Senator Bill Lockyer, in 1987, who...

                              THE BAY TRAIL  The San Francisco Bay Train, a 400-mile network, provides public access to the Bay shoreline not possible since the Gold Rush. It was State Senator Bill Lockyer, in 1987,...

                              • san francisco
                              • bay area
                              • california
                              • bay
                              • shoreline