A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
Explore the nearly 25,000 worldwide plaques on the Big Map big map screenshot
The most recent plaques:

Jumbo

Near this site on September 15, 1885, one of the best known and most beloved animals met an untimely death when he was struck by a railway locomotive. Jumbo, the 5900 kg African elephant, had been...

Near this site on September 15, 1885, one of the best known and most beloved animals met an untimely death when he was struck by a railway locomotive. Jumbo, the 5900 kg African elephant, had been...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Jeanne Lajoie 1899-1930

Jeanne Lajoie, a dedicated teacher and advocate for the establishment of French schools in Ontario, was born in Lefaivre, near Hawkesbury, in 1899. In 1923, Lajoie helped a group of francophone...

Jeanne Lajoie, a dedicated teacher and advocate for the establishment of French schools in Ontario, was born in Lefaivre, near Hawkesbury, in 1899. In 1923, Lajoie helped a group of francophone...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Joseph Schneider Haus

Built around 1816, this house is a reminder of the migration of Pennsylvania-German Mennonites to Waterloo County in the early 19th century. The movement was led by Joseph Schneider, the builder...

Built around 1816, this house is a reminder of the migration of Pennsylvania-German Mennonites to Waterloo County in the early 19th century. The movement was led by Joseph Schneider, the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

James Morrison 1861-1936

J.J. Morrison, an influential activist in farmer's causes, lived on a farm 2 km south of Arthur. He entered politics in the early 1900s, a time when many farmers felt ignored in an increasingly...

J.J. Morrison, an influential activist in farmer's causes, lived on a farm 2 km south of Arthur. He entered politics in the early 1900s, a time when many farmers felt ignored in an increasingly...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John Sandfield Macdonald 1812-1872

St. Raphael is the birthplace of John Sandfield Macdonald, Prime Minister of the Province of Canada 1862-64, and first Premier of Ontario 1867-71. First elected to represent Glengarry in the...

St. Raphael is the birthplace of John Sandfield Macdonald, Prime Minister of the Province of Canada 1862-64, and first Premier of Ontario 1867-71. First elected to represent Glengarry in the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Joseph E. Atkinson 1865-1948

One of Canada's leading publishers, Joseph Atkinson was born here in Clarke Township and, at eighteen, began his journalistic career with the Port Hope Times. He subsequently moved to Toronto...

One of Canada's leading publishers, Joseph Atkinson was born here in Clarke Township and, at eighteen, began his journalistic career with the Port Hope Times. He subsequently moved to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John McLean 1799-1890

In this house from 1847 to 1857 lived the noted explorer and author John McLean, who was born in Scotland and joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821. In 1838 he became the first white man to...

In this house from 1847 to 1857 lived the noted explorer and author John McLean, who was born in Scotland and joined the Hudson's Bay Company in 1821. In 1838 he became the first white man...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Jean Nicolet

Born in France about 1598, this explorer, fur trader and interpreter came to Canada in 1608. Under orders from Samuel de Champlain, he spent the following two years with the Algonguins of...

Born in France about 1598, this explorer, fur trader and interpreter came to Canada in 1608. Under orders from Samuel de Champlain, he spent the following two years with the Algonguins...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

James Naismith (1861-1939)

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was born on this farm in Ramsey Township. While studying theology in Montréal, he played a number of sports and became interested in the new discipline...

James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, was born on this farm in Ramsey Township. While studying theology in Montréal, he played a number of sports and became interested in the new discipline...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The John Backhouse Mill

John Backhouse emigrated from Yorkshire to the United States in 1791 but shortly thereafter, moved to Upper Canada. He served as a Major of the 1st Norfolk Militia in the War of 1812 and became a...

John Backhouse emigrated from Yorkshire to the United States in 1791 but shortly thereafter, moved to Upper Canada. He served as a Major of the 1st Norfolk Militia in the War of 1812 and became a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John Thomson 1837-1920

Born in Edinburgh, Thomson emigrated in 1854 to New Jersey, there completing his apprenticeship as a paper-maker. He moved in 1860 to Saint John, N.B., where he devised an improved method for the...

Born in Edinburgh, Thomson emigrated in 1854 to New Jersey, there completing his apprenticeship as a paper-maker. He moved in 1860 to Saint John, N.B., where he devised an improved method for...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Japanese-Canadian Road Camps 1942-1944

During the Second World War, the federal government forcibly evacuated Canadians of Japanese ancestry from the coast of British Columbia. In the spring of 1942, several hundred young men were sent...

During the Second World War, the federal government forcibly evacuated Canadians of Japanese ancestry from the coast of British Columbia. In the spring of 1942, several hundred young men were sent...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John R. Booth Residence

This refined and elegant Queen Anne Revival house is as impressive now as when it was built in 1909 for lumber baron John R. Booth. Hallmark features of this style, popular from the 1880s to the...

This refined and elegant Queen Anne Revival house is as impressive now as when it was built in 1909 for lumber baron John R. Booth. Hallmark features of this style, popular from the 1880s to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

James Bertram Collip 1892-1965

A co-discoverer of insulin, J.B. (Bert) Collip was one of Canada's most prolific medical researchers in the first half of the 20th century. Born and raised in Belleville, Collip received a PhD in...

A co-discoverer of insulin, J.B. (Bert) Collip was one of Canada's most prolific medical researchers in the first half of the 20th century. Born and raised in Belleville, Collip received a PhD...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John McCrae 1872-1918

Born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, McCrae was educated at the University of Toronto's medical school, graduating as a gold medallist in 1898. He served in the Boer War with the artillery and during...

Born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, McCrae was educated at the University of Toronto's medical school, graduating as a gold medallist in 1898. He served in the Boer War with the artillery and during...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Joseph Emm Seagram (1841-1919)

Joseph Seagram, industrialist, politician and sportsman, was born near Galt, Upper Canada. In 1864 he came to Waterloo where he subsequently began the association with the distillery of which he...

Joseph Seagram, industrialist, politician and sportsman, was born near Galt, Upper Canada. In 1864 he came to Waterloo where he subsequently began the association with the distillery of which he...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John Galt 1779-1839

Guelph was founded on April 23, 1827, by the Scottish author and colonizer, John Galt, first superintendent of the Canada Company. That body, composed of a group of British speculators, purchased...

Guelph was founded on April 23, 1827, by the Scottish author and colonizer, John Galt, first superintendent of the Canada Company. That body, composed of a group of British speculators, purchased...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

John Wycliffe Lowes Forster 1850-1938

Born in Norval, this internationally renowned artist attended Brampton Grammar School before apprenticing to Toronto painter John W. Bridgman, with whom he later formed a partnership. After...

Born in Norval, this internationally renowned artist attended Brampton Grammar School before apprenticing to Toronto painter John W. Bridgman, with whom he later formed a partnership....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Joseph Schneider House 1820

This house, constructed in 1820 by Joseph Schneider (1772-1843), is the oldest surviving dwelling in Kitchener. Built of frame and originally covered with roughcast, it has been little changed...

This house, constructed in 1820 by Joseph Schneider (1772-1843), is the oldest surviving dwelling in Kitchener. Built of frame and originally covered with roughcast, it has been little changed...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

J.E.H. MacDonald 1873-1932

MacDonald, one of Canada's outstanding artists, lived here 1913-1932. Born in Durham, England, of Canadian parents, he came with his family to Hamilton in 1887. Though his formal art training was...

MacDonald, one of Canada's outstanding artists, lived here 1913-1932. Born in Durham, England, of Canadian parents, he came with his family to Hamilton in 1887. Though his formal art training was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown