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

George Chaffey 1848-1932

Born at Brockville, Canada West, Chaffey became a shipbuilder on the Great Lakes and the inventor of a new type of propeller. Subsequently he went to California where, in partnership with his...

Born at Brockville, Canada West, Chaffey became a shipbuilder on the Great Lakes and the inventor of a new type of propeller. Subsequently he went to California where, in partnership with his...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Group of Seven (1920-1933)

Coming together in Toronto, Frank Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald and F.H. Varley set out to give Canada a truly national form of painting....

Coming together in Toronto, Frank Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald and F.H. Varley set out to give Canada a truly national form of painting....

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Gideon Tiffany 1774-1854

A native of New Hampshire who had come to Niagara in 1794, Tiffany was appointed King's Printer and published the official "Upper Canada Gazette" until 1797. He was not a Loyalist and the...

A native of New Hampshire who had come to Niagara in 1794, Tiffany was appointed King's Printer and published the official "Upper Canada Gazette" until 1797. He was not a Loyalist and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Hamilton 1787-1836

Born at Queenston, George Hamilton was the son of a prosperous merchant, the Hon. Robert Hamilton. He followed his father's career as a merchant in the Niagara District until the War of 1812, in...

Born at Queenston, George Hamilton was the son of a prosperous merchant, the Hon. Robert Hamilton. He followed his father's career as a merchant in the Niagara District until the War of 1812,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Government Inn 1798-1861

Near this site on the Credit River's eastern bank, the government of Upper Canada built a "post-house" or inn in 1798, for the use of persons travelling between York and such settlements as...

Near this site on the Credit River's eastern bank, the government of Upper Canada built a "post- house" or inn in 1798, for the use of persons travelling between York and such settlements...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Glengarry Congregational Church 1837

This log structure completed in 1837, is the oldest remaining chapel in Ontario built by the Congregationalists. Its first minister, the Reverend William McKillican (1776-1849), emigrated to...

This log structure completed in 1837, is the oldest remaining chapel in Ontario built by the Congregationalists. Its first minister, the Reverend William McKillican (1776-1849), emigrated to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Glacial Terraces

About 20,000 years ago Ontario was covered by a great glacier, the fourth glaciation in this region within the past million years. The meltwaters from these gigantic ice-sheets filled the Lake...

About 20,000 years ago Ontario was covered by a great glacier, the fourth glaciation in this region within the past million years. The meltwaters from these gigantic ice-sheets filled the Lake...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Gore's Landing

Named after Thomas S. Gore, an Irishman who settled in this vicinity in 1845, the village of Gore's Landing prospered for a time as the terminal point of a plank road constructed from Cobourg to...

Named after Thomas S. Gore, an Irishman who settled in this vicinity in 1845, the village of Gore's Landing prospered for a time as the terminal point of a plank road constructed from Cobourg to...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Grand Portage

Circumventing 34 km of falls and rapids, this portage ran some 14 km from Lake Superior to a point upstream on the opposite side of the Pigeon River. It was first mentioned in 1722 by a French...

Circumventing 34 km of falls and rapids, this portage ran some 14 km from Lake Superior to a point upstream on the opposite side of the Pigeon River. It was first mentioned in 1722 by a...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Gillies Bros. Lumbering Firm

This firm was begun in 1873 when James, William, John and David Gillies purchased a steam sawmill here on the Ottawa River at Braeside. Building on the experience acquired by their father, John...

This firm was begun in 1873 when James, William, John and David Gillies purchased a steam sawmill here on the Ottawa River at Braeside. Building on the experience acquired by their father,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

George Laidlaw 1828-1889

An energetic railway promoter and builder, Laidlaw was born in Scotland and emigrated to Toronto in 1855. He soon prospered as a grain merchant and a wharf-owner, and after 1866 gained prominence...

An energetic railway promoter and builder, Laidlaw was born in Scotland and emigrated to Toronto in 1855. He soon prospered as a grain merchant and a wharf-owner, and after 1866 gained prominence...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Glengarry Fencibles

The regiment of Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles was raised in 1811-12 largely from among the Highland settlers of this region, many of whom had served previously in Europe with the Glengarry...

The regiment of Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles was raised in 1811-12 largely from among the Highland settlers of this region, many of whom had served previously in Europe with the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grey Owl 1888-1938

As a youth in England, Archibald Belaney was fascinated with wildlife and tales of North American Indians. At seventeen he came to Canada and soon began living among the Ojibwa on Bear Island. He...

As a youth in England, Archibald Belaney was fascinated with wildlife and tales of North American Indians. At seventeen he came to Canada and soon began living among the Ojibwa on Bear Island. He...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Grand Trunk Railway St. Mary's Junction

The Grand Trunk Railway was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took in existing lines, new ones had to be built, including the Toronto to Sarnia section which...

The Grand Trunk Railway was incorporated in 1853 to run from Sarnia to Portland, Maine. Although it took in existing lines, new ones had to be built, including the Toronto to Sarnia section which...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Glanmore

This imposing house is a fine example of the Second Empire style which was popular in Canada in the 1870s and 1880s. Local architect Thomas Hanley skillfully blended the characteristic Second...

This imposing house is a fine example of the Second Empire style which was popular in Canada in the 1870s and 1880s. Local architect Thomas Hanley skillfully blended the characteristic...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Stoney Point

French-speaking settlers from the Detroit-Sandwich area and Lower Canada (Quebec) were the first to locate in Tilbury West Township after it was surveyed in 1824. They established farms along Lake...

French-speaking settlers from the Detroit-Sandwich area and Lower Canada (Quebec) were the first to locate in Tilbury West Township after it was surveyed in 1824. They established farms along Lake...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Kapuskasing

In 1911 the National Transcontinental Railway, then under construction, reached the present site of Kapuskasing. Three years later during the first World War the Canadian government established in...

In 1911 the National Transcontinental Railway, then under construction, reached the present site of Kapuskasing. Three years later during the first World War the Canadian government established...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Founding of Maitland

In this vicinity, the site of a shipyard used during both the late French and early British periods, a village plot was laid out in 1824 for Jehiel and Ziba Phillips. Adjacent to it George...

In this vicinity, the site of a shipyard used during both the late French and early British periods, a village plot was laid out in 1824 for Jehiel and Ziba Phillips. Adjacent to it...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

First Regular Baptist Church, Dresden

The First Baptist Church of Dawn - established by former slaves and free African Americans in the 1840s - held its meetings in private homes, then in a log chapel at the British American...

The First Baptist Church of Dawn - established by former slaves and free African Americans in the 1840s - held its meetings in private homes, then in a log chapel at the British American...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Fort Wellington

Constructed in 1812 and 1813 under direction of Lieutenant Colonels Thomas Pearson and George R.J. Macdonell, as the main post for the defence of the communication between Kingston and Montreal,...

Constructed in 1812 and 1813 under direction of Lieutenant Colonels Thomas Pearson and George R.J. Macdonell, as the main post for the defence of the communication between Kingston and Montreal,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown