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

Honourable Arthur Sturgis Hardy 1837-1901

Ontario's fourth prime minister was born in Mount Pleasant, called to the Bar in 1865, and practised law in Brantford for many years. In 1873 he was elected to the Ontario legislature and sat as...

Ontario's fourth prime minister was born in Mount Pleasant, called to the Bar in 1865, and practised law in Brantford for many years. In 1873 he was elected to the Ontario legislature and sat...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Hungerford Smallpox Epidemic of 1884

The viral disease of smallpox - widespread in 19th century Ontario - flared up in a severe epidemic in Hungerford Township in 1884. The outbreak claimed at least 45 lives in 202 reported cases and...

The viral disease of smallpox - widespread in 19th century Ontario - flared up in a severe epidemic in Hungerford Township in 1884. The outbreak claimed at least 45 lives in 202 reported cases and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hawkesbury Mills

In 1805 Thomas Mears and David Patee leased islands in the Ottawa where they built a sawmill and a grist-mill. They constructed a dam across the channel to Hawkesbury West and there purchased 400...

In 1805 Thomas Mears and David Patee leased islands in the Ottawa where they built a sawmill and a grist-mill. They constructed a dam across the channel to Hawkesbury West and there purchased 400...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Henry Wolsey Bayfield 1795-1885

Born in England, Bayfield joined the Royal Navy at the age of eleven and served in many parts of the world. While stationed at Kingston, Upper Canada in 1817, he was put in charge of the Great...

Born in England, Bayfield joined the Royal Navy at the age of eleven and served in many parts of the world. While stationed at Kingston, Upper Canada in 1817, he was put in charge of the Great...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Heathfield

The house which stood near this site was constructed prior to 1841, and purchased in 1865 by Prof. James Williamson of Queen's University. His wife, Margaret, was a sister of Sir John A....

The house which stood near this site was constructed prior to 1841, and purchased in 1865 by Prof. James Williamson of Queen's University. His wife, Margaret, was a sister of Sir John...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Huron College 1863

The college was founded by the Right Reverend Benjamin Cronyn who, following his election in 1857 as first Anglican Bishop of Huron, saw the need for a theological school and institution for...

The college was founded by the Right Reverend Benjamin Cronyn who, following his election in 1857 as first Anglican Bishop of Huron, saw the need for a theological school and institution...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Honourable William Aberhart 1878-1943

Founder of the Social Credit Party and premier of Alberta, 1935-43, Aberhart attended Seaforth Collegiate Institute, 1893-98, and later graduated from Queen's University. In 1910 he moved to...

Founder of the Social Credit Party and premier of Alberta, 1935-43, Aberhart attended Seaforth Collegiate Institute, 1893-98, and later graduated from Queen's University. In 1910 he moved...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Harwood

This area, purchased in 1828 by Robert Harwood, a Montreal merchant, did not begin to develop rapidly until the arrival of the Cobourg and Peterborough Railway in 1854. Harwood was surveyed in...

This area, purchased in 1828 by Robert Harwood, a Montreal merchant, did not begin to develop rapidly until the arrival of the Cobourg and Peterborough Railway in 1854. Harwood was surveyed in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Huron County Gaol

Erected between 1839 and 1841, this remarkably preserved building follows Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon design for prison construction, often found in mid-19th-century Britain and America. It...

Erected between 1839 and 1841, this remarkably preserved building follows Jeremy Bentham's Panopticon design for prison construction, often found in mid-19th-century Britain and America....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Herbert Taylor Reade, V.C. 1828-1897

Born in Perth, Upper Canada, and educated in Quebec and Ireland, Reade became an assistant surgeon with the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment in 1850. On September 14, 1857, at the siege of...

Born in Perth, Upper Canada, and educated in Quebec and Ireland, Reade became an assistant surgeon with the 61st (South Gloucestershire) Regiment in 1850. On September 14, 1857, at the siege of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey 1784-1857

A merchant and ship-owner in his native England, Pinhey came to Upper Canada in 1820. For his services as King's messenger during the Napoleonic Wars, he received a 405 ha land grant on the Ottawa...

A merchant and ship-owner in his native England, Pinhey came to Upper Canada in 1820. For his services as King's messenger during the Napoleonic Wars, he received a 405 ha land grant on the Ottawa...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Henry Norman Bethune 1890-1939

Born in Gravenhurst, Bethune studied medicine in Toronto. He made significant contributions to thoracic surgery in Montréal hospitals, and became a strong advocate of socialized medicine. In...

Born in Gravenhurst, Bethune studied medicine in Toronto. He made significant contributions to thoracic surgery in Montréal hospitals, and became a strong advocate of socialized medicine....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Honourable Thomas Laird Kennedy 1878-1959

Born on a farm which included this site, Kennedy was educated locally and in Toronto, and became active in local politics. He served with distinction in the First World War, later attaining the...

Born on a farm which included this site, Kennedy was educated locally and in Toronto, and became active in local politics. He served with distinction in the First World War, later attaining the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Huron Fish Weirs

In the adjacent Narrows joining Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching are the remains of Indian fish weirs. They were noted by Samuel de Champlain when he passed here on September 1, 1605, with a Huron war...

In the adjacent Narrows joining Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching are the remains of Indian fish weirs. They were noted by Samuel de Champlain when he passed here on September 1, 1605, with a Huron...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hamilton CN Station

This building recalls the importance of the railway to the development of Canada's industrial cities. Completed in 1931, it combines a strong classical design with a fluid circulation plan, making...

This building recalls the importance of the railway to the development of Canada's industrial cities. Completed in 1931, it combines a strong classical design with a fluid circulation plan, making...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Harold A. Rogers, O.C., O.B.E. 1899-1994

The founder of Kinsmen & Kinette Clubs of Canada was born and raised at 324 Dundas Street, directly across from the armouries. Seeking the camaraderie he had experienced in the army during the...

The founder of Kinsmen & Kinette Clubs of Canada was born and raised at 324 Dundas Street, directly across from the armouries. Seeking the camaraderie he had experienced in the army during the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Harriet Ross Tubman c.1820-1913

A legendary conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman became known as the "Moses" of her people. Tubman was born into slavery on a Maryland plantation and suffered brutal treatment...

A legendary conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman became known as the "Moses" of her people. Tubman was born into slavery on a Maryland plantation and suffered brutal treatment...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Honourable Ernest Charles Drury

A descendant of one of this area's pioneer families, Drury was born on this farm in 1878. His father, the Hon. Charles Drury, had served (1888-1890) as Ontario's first minister of agriculture. A...

A descendant of one of this area's pioneer families, Drury was born on this farm in 1878. His father, the Hon. Charles Drury, had served (1888-1890) as Ontario's first minister of agriculture. A...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Hudson's Bay Post 1856

In 1856 the Hudson's Bay Company, faced with decline in trade at La Cloche on the mainland, obtained permission to establish a post at Little Current. A substantial log building, this community's...

In 1856 the Hudson's Bay Company, faced with decline in trade at La Cloche on the mainland, obtained permission to establish a post at Little Current. A substantial log building, this community's...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Horatio Walker 1858-1938

Born at Listowel, Ontario, Walker learned water colour technique in Toronto and studied briefly in New York but was largely self taught. In 1883 he settled on the Ile d'Orleans where for more than...

Born at Listowel, Ontario, Walker learned water colour technique in Toronto and studied briefly in New York but was largely self taught. In 1883 he settled on the Ile d'Orleans where for more...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown