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

Irish Immigrants and the Fever Sheds 1847

Fleeing disease, poverty, the failure of the potato crop and government indifference, over 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Canada in 1847. Of these, nearly 40,000 passed through Toronto, a...

Fleeing disease, poverty, the failure of the potato crop and government indifference, over 100,000 Irish immigrants arrived in Canada in 1847. Of these, nearly 40,000 passed through Toronto, a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Island Filtration Plant

There have been four water facilities of different types constructed on Toronto Island on the same site. The first of these consisted of an infiltration basin constructed in 1874. It was about 823...

There have been four water facilities of different types constructed on Toronto Island on the same site. The first of these consisted of an infiltration basin constructed in 1874. It was about 823...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Honourable George Brown 1818-1880

Born near Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown emigrated with his father to New York in 1837. In 1843 he moved to Toronto and the following year founded the "the Globe" newspaper which achieved great...

Born near Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown emigrated with his father to New York in 1837. In 1843 he moved to Toronto and the following year founded the "the Globe" newspaper which achieved...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

A History of the Bridgepoint Hospital Site

Since its earliest days, the facilities on this site have addressed the most pressing public issues of the time. In the 1860s, planning and construction begin for a new, more progressive jail. A...

Since its earliest days, the facilities on this site have addressed the most pressing public issues of the time. In the 1860s, planning and construction begin for a new, more progressive jail. A...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Home District School

On this site, on June 1, 1807, The Rev. George Okill Stuart opened the first public school at York in a small one-storey stone building attached to his modest frame house. In 1813 the school was...

On this site, on June 1, 1807, The Rev. George Okill Stuart opened the first public school at York in a small one-storey stone building attached to his modest frame house. In 1813 the school...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Harold Town 13 June 1924 - 27 December 1990

Harold Barling Town was an artist of great gifts, legendary wit and large achievement. He loved this city and spent his whole life here, much of it at work in the Studio Building northeast of this...

Harold Barling Town was an artist of great gifts, legendary wit and large achievement. He loved this city and spent his whole life here, much of it at work in the Studio Building northeast of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Honourable George Stewart Henry 1871-1958

Ontario's tenth prime minister was born in King Township but throughout his life farmed on this property. From 1903 to 1910, as York Township councillor and reeve and warden of York County, he...

Ontario's tenth prime minister was born in King Township but throughout his life farmed on this property. From 1903 to 1910, as York Township councillor and reeve and warden of York County,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

How The Earth Was Formed

According to Wendat tradition, Yaa'taenhtsihk, mother of the human race, fell from the sky and was saved by geese from drowning in the sea. She could not survive in the water, so the Great Turtle...

According to Wendat tradition, Yaa'taenhtsihk, mother of the human race, fell from the sky and was saved by geese from drowning in the sea. She could not survive in the water, so the Great Turtle...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hillside Public School S.S. No. 4.

A one room frame schoolhouse was erected in 1853 near the southwest corner of Kirkham's Rd. and Finch Ave. It became one of two free schools in 1855. A second schoolhouse was built 30 m east of...

A one room frame schoolhouse was erected in 1853 near the southwest corner of Kirkham's Rd. and Finch Ave. It became one of two free schools in 1855. A second schoolhouse was built 30 m east...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Henry Mulholland

Dedicated to the memory of Henry Mulholland and his wife Jane Armstrong, pioneers of this district who emigrated from Ulster in 1806 and took out the original grant of 162 ha from the crown. He...

Dedicated to the memory of Henry Mulholland and his wife Jane Armstrong, pioneers of this district who emigrated from Ulster in 1806 and took out the original grant of 162 ha from the crown. He...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

House of Providence

Once one of the city's largest centres of charity, the House of Providence stood nearby for over 100 years. It was initiated by Toronto's Roman Catholic Bishop, Armand-François-Marie de...

Once one of the city's largest centres of charity, the House of Providence stood nearby for over 100 years. It was initiated by Toronto's Roman Catholic Bishop, Armand-François-Marie...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

House of Industry

A building for Toronto's historic House of Industry was erected on this site in 1848. Designed by William Thomas, it was later enlarged by architects Joseph Sheard (1858) and E.J. Lennox (1898)....

A building for Toronto's historic House of Industry was erected on this site in 1848. Designed by William Thomas, it was later enlarged by architects Joseph Sheard (1858) and E.J. Lennox (1898)....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Highland Creek Village

About 1796, pioneer settlers from the United States and the British Isles built homes in southeastern Scarborough, the beginning of a prosperous community. Notable settlers included the families:...

About 1796, pioneer settlers from the United States and the British Isles built homes in southeastern Scarborough, the beginning of a prosperous community. Notable settlers included the families:...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

History As Theatre: 200 Toronto Years

Artist: John Hood. Assisted By: Alexandra Hood. This 400 square metre mural was commissioned by The Toronto Sun on November 1st, 1991 on the occasion of our 20th Birthday. It commemorates the...

Artist: John Hood. Assisted By: Alexandra Hood. This 400 square metre mural was commissioned by The Toronto Sun on November 1st, 1991 on the occasion of our 20th Birthday. It commemorates...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Humber River Marshes and Oak Savannah

Urban development, including the creation of grassy public parks, has left us few places to experience the Humber Valley in its natural state. You are now standing between two such places: a marsh...

Urban development, including the creation of grassy public parks, has left us few places to experience the Humber Valley in its natural state. You are now standing between two such places: a marsh...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Huron-Wendat Villages on the Humber River

In the late 1800s, Aboriginal artifacts, perhaps Huron-Wendat in origin, were found up on the edge of the valley, not far from here. The Huron-Wendat lived for centuries along the waterways...

In the late 1800s, Aboriginal artifacts, perhaps Huron-Wendat in origin, were found up on the edge of the valley, not far from here. The Huron-Wendat lived for centuries along the waterways...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

H. Stephen Went 1952-1989

This garden, designed by Stephen in 1984, reflects the same sensitivity & attention to detail which he brought to the design of several other major parks in Toronto including St. James' Park,...

This garden, designed by Stephen in 1984, reflects the same sensitivity & attention to detail which he brought to the design of several other major parks in Toronto including St. James' Park,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Humber River

The Humber River watershed, the largest river system in the Toronto region, covers 903 square kilometres. From its source on the Oak Ridges Moraine and Niagara Escarpment, the Humber flows through...

The Humber River watershed, the largest river system in the Toronto region, covers 903 square kilometres. From its source on the Oak Ridges Moraine and Niagara Escarpment, the Humber flows through...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hillside Church

This church opened on Nov. 18, 1877 as a branch of the Scarboro Circuit of the Methodist Church of Canada to meet the religious needs of this rural community. The property was given by Mr. and...

This church opened on Nov. 18, 1877 as a branch of the Scarboro Circuit of the Methodist Church of Canada to meet the religious needs of this rural community. The property was given by Mr. and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Healey Willan (1880-1968)

Healey Willan, Canada's first internationally known composer, was born in Balham, Surrey, England, and came to Canada in 1913. He taught at the Toronto Conservatory of Music and became professor...

Healey Willan, Canada's first internationally known composer, was born in Balham, Surrey, England, and came to Canada in 1913. He taught at the Toronto Conservatory of Music and became professor...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown