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:

Sir Sandford Fleming 1827-1915

Inventor of Standard Time and pioneer in world communications, Fleming was born in Kirkcaldy and trained in engineering and surveying before emigrating to Canada and settling at Peterborough,...

Inventor of Standard Time and pioneer in world communications, Fleming was born in Kirkcaldy and trained in engineering and surveying before emigrating to Canada and settling at...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Samuel de Champlain (died in 1635)

The "Father of New France", Champlain was at the heart of the French venture in North America from 1603 to 1635. Under the leadership of Pierre Dugua de Mons, he helped colonize Acadia and, in...

The "Father of New France", Champlain was at the heart of the French venture in North America from 1603 to 1635. Under the leadership of Pierre Dugua de Mons, he helped colonize Acadia and, in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Jude's Paintings

The paintings in this church vividly illustrate the ideas of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Popular at the turn of the 20th century, the movement reacted against increasing industrialization by...

The paintings in this church vividly illustrate the ideas of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Popular at the turn of the 20th century, the movement reacted against increasing industrialization...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Salter's Meridian 1856

While laying out a meridian line (a north-south survey line) in 1856, provincial land surveyor Albert Salter observed severe compass needle deflections some five kilometres north of here....

While laying out a meridian line (a north-south survey line) in 1856, provincial land surveyor Albert Salter observed severe compass needle deflections some five kilometres north of...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Frederick Banting 1891-1941

Soldier, surgeon, and scientist, Banting in 1920 became convinced of the existence of a hormone known as insulin. A laboratory provided by Prof. J.J.R. McLeod of the University of Toronto enabled...

Soldier, surgeon, and scientist, Banting in 1920 became convinced of the existence of a hormone known as insulin. A laboratory provided by Prof. J.J.R. McLeod of the University of Toronto...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Arthur William Currie 1875-1933

Born at Napperton, Currie served in the Canadian Garrison Artillery (1897-1914), rising to command his regiment in 1909. In 1914, he led the 2nd Brigade of the 50th Regiment Gordon Highlanders...

Born at Napperton, Currie served in the Canadian Garrison Artillery (1897-1914), rising to command his regiment in 1909. In 1914, he led the 2nd Brigade of the 50th Regiment Gordon...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Francis Hincks 1807-1885

Francis Hincks was born in Ireland. He came to the Canadas in 1830 and in 1841 was elected as Member for Oxford. He joined the Reformers in the struggle for Responsible Government. He was their...

Francis Hincks was born in Ireland. He came to the Canadas in 1830 and in 1841 was elected as Member for Oxford. He joined the Reformers in the struggle for Responsible Government. He was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Mark's Church 1822

Built in 1822 this Anglican Church was consecrated in 1828 and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. With an enlargement in 1842 and alterations to windows and tower in 1851 the church approached...

Built in 1822 this Anglican Church was consecrated in 1828 and dedicated to St. John the Evangelist. With an enlargement in 1842 and alterations to windows and tower in 1851 the church...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Shingwauk Hall

Shingwauk Hall was erected in 1935 to house a residential training school established in 1873 by the Reverend Edward F. Wilson. Under this Anglican missionary's tutelage the institution, named...

Shingwauk Hall was erected in 1935 to house a residential training school established in 1873 by the Reverend Edward F. Wilson. Under this Anglican missionary's tutelage the institution, named...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Paul's Presbyterian Church

Erected in 1854-1857, St. Paul's (formerly St. Andrew's) is an elegant example of the Gothic Revival style. The design of the church shows the influence of the Ecclesiological Movement which...

Erected in 1854-1857, St. Paul's (formerly St. Andrew's) is an elegant example of the Gothic Revival style. The design of the church shows the influence of the Ecclesiological Movement...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Simon Fraser 1776-1862

This famous fur trader and explorer, son of a Loyalist officer, was born in what is now Vermont and came to Canada in 1784. He entered the fur trade with the North West Company in 1792 and in 1805...

This famous fur trader and explorer, son of a Loyalist officer, was born in what is now Vermont and came to Canada in 1784. He entered the fur trade with the North West Company in 1792 and in 1805...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Scouting Movement in Canada

Brought to Canada in 1908, the Scout Movement, originally known as the Boy Scouts, became one of the largest and most influential youth organizations in the country, its membership reaching more...

Brought to Canada in 1908, the Scout Movement, originally known as the Boy Scouts, became one of the largest and most influential youth organizations in the country, its membership reaching more...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Steamboating on Lake Simcoe

The "Sir John Colborne", launched in 1832, was the first of many steamboats on Lake Simcoe. A link in the land-water transportation route connecting the Upper and Lower Great Lakes, steamboats...

The "Sir John Colborne", launched in 1832, was the first of many steamboats on Lake Simcoe. A link in the land-water transportation route connecting the Upper and Lower Great Lakes, steamboats...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. John's Church

Following the cession of Detroit to the United States in 1794, and the withdrawal of the British garrison two years later, many residents moved to the Canadian side of the river where they founded...

Following the cession of Detroit to the United States in 1794, and the withdrawal of the British garrison two years later, many residents moved to the Canadian side of the river where they...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Johns

A sawmill built in 1792 on nearby Twelve Mile Creek by Benjamin Canby, an early entrepreneur, formed the nucleus of a settlement, which by 1799 was called St. Johns. Other enterprising...

A sawmill built in 1792 on nearby Twelve Mile Creek by Benjamin Canby, an early entrepreneur, formed the nucleus of a settlement, which by 1799 was called St. Johns. Other...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Right Honourable Arthur Meighen 1874-1960

Born on a farm near here, Meighen graduated from the University of Toronto in 1896, and in 1902 moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to practice law. In 1908 he was elected to the federal...

Born on a farm near here, Meighen graduated from the University of Toronto in 1896, and in 1902 moved to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, to practice law. In 1908 he was elected to the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Ridout Street Complex

This streetscape includes several of London's earliest buildings and provides a capsule view of the appearance of mid-19th century Ontario cities. These buildings, the earliest of which was begun...

This streetscape includes several of London's earliest buildings and provides a capsule view of the appearance of mid-19th century Ontario cities. These buildings, the earliest of which was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Ridley College

One of Ontario's most prominent independent boarding schools, this college, named for a 16th-century Christian martyr, was opened in 1889. It was established by Anglican churchmen to provide boys...

One of Ontario's most prominent independent boarding schools, this college, named for a 16th- century Christian martyr, was opened in 1889. It was established by Anglican churchmen to provide boys...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Right Honourable Sir Lyman Poore Duff 1865-1955

One of the Commonwealth's most eminent jurists, L.P. Duff was born in Meaford and educated at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall. Called to the bar of Ontario in 1893, he practised law in...

One of the Commonwealth's most eminent jurists, L.P. Duff was born in Meaford and educated at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall. Called to the bar of Ontario in 1893, he practised law...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Reverend John Strachan in Cornwall

This pioneer clergyman, legislator and teacher was born in 1778 in Aberdeen, Scotland, and in 1799 came to Kingston as a tutor. In 1803, after entering the Church of England, he was ordained and...

This pioneer clergyman, legislator and teacher was born in 1778 in Aberdeen, Scotland, and in 1799 came to Kingston as a tutor. In 1803, after entering the Church of England, he was ordained and...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown