A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
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The most recent plaques:

Birthsite of W.E.B. Du Bois

"I WAS BORN BY A GOLDEN RIVER AND IN THE SHADOW OF TOW GREAT HILLS, FIVE YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION"  BIRTHPLACE OF W.E.B DUBOIS (1868-1963)  PREMIER ARCHITECT OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL...

"I WAS BORN BY A GOLDEN RIVER AND IN THE SHADOW OF TOW GREAT HILLS, FIVE YEARS AFTER THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION"  BIRTHPLACE OF W.E.B DUBOIS (1868-1963)  PREMIER ARCHITECT OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL...

  • great barrington
  • massachusetts
  • african american
  • civil rights

This Coastal Sea Star

    Largest Grant Wood Murals

    Grant Wood's largest murals are located in Iowa State's Parks Library. Wood, best known for his painting American Gothic that depicts a stoic farm couple, was commissioned by Iowa State in the...

    Grant Wood's largest murals are located in Iowa State's Parks Library. Wood, best known for his painting American Gothic that depicts a stoic farm couple, was commissioned by Iowa State in...

      Fairmont Ave Streetscape

        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