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

Temagami Post 1834

The first Hudson's Bay post on Lake Timagami was established on the south shore of Timagami Island in 1834 under Chief Trader Richard Hardisty, the father-in-law of Lord Strathcona. It was...

The first Hudson's Bay post on Lake Timagami was established on the south shore of Timagami Island in 1834 under Chief Trader Richard Hardisty, the father-in-law of Lord Strathcona. It...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Toronto's Radial Railways

Electric railway service on routes radiating from Toronto began in 1889. Within 20 years, the Toronto and York Radial Railway Company operated lines north on Yonge Street to Sutton, with a branch...

Electric railway service on routes radiating from Toronto began in 1889. Within 20 years, the Toronto and York Radial Railway Company operated lines north on Yonge Street to Sutton, with a branch...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Tom Longboat 1886-1949

This Onondaga athlete, born on the Six Nations reserve of the Grand River Iroquois, became the foremost long distance runner of his time. He followed the ancient Iroquois tradition of running,...

This Onondaga athlete, born on the Six Nations reserve of the Grand River Iroquois, became the foremost long distance runner of his time. He followed the ancient Iroquois tradition of running,...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

"Tassie's School"

The Galt Grammar School was established in 1852 in a former township hall, and William Tassie (1815-1886) became headmaster the following year. Previously assistant headmaster at the Gore District...

The Galt Grammar School was established in 1852 in a former township hall, and William Tassie (1815-1886) became headmaster the following year. Previously assistant headmaster at the Gore District...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Thomas "Carbide" Willson 1860-1915

This house was built in 1895 by Thomas Leopold Willson, an electrical engineer who discovered the first commercial process for the production of calcium carbide, a chemical compound used in the...

This house was built in 1895 by Thomas Leopold Willson, an electrical engineer who discovered the first commercial process for the production of calcium carbide, a chemical compound used in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Town of Niagara

  This plaque is placed at the entrance of a beautiful park in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, just a few miles down the road from Niagara Falls. Niagara-on-the-Lake served as the first...

  This plaque is placed at the entrance of a beautiful park in the heart of Niagara-on-the- Lake, Ontario, just a few miles down the road from Niagara Falls. Niagara-on-the-Lake served as...

  • niagara
  • niagara-on-the-lake
  • ontario
  • canada
  • upper canada
  • war of 1812
  • butler's rangers
  • loyalists

Sir John Alexander Macdonald 1815-1891

Born in Scotland, Macdonald's formative years were spent here in the historic old town of Kingston. His superb skills kept him at the centre of public life for fifty years. The political genius of...

Born in Scotland, Macdonald's formative years were spent here in the historic old town of Kingston. His superb skills kept him at the centre of public life for fifty years. The political genius...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sainte-Marie II

In the wake of the destructive Iroquois raids of early 1649 the Jesuits abandoned the mission of Sainte-Marie and joined several hundred Huron refugees here on Christian Island, which the Hurons...

In the wake of the destructive Iroquois raids of early 1649 the Jesuits abandoned the mission of Sainte-Marie and joined several hundred Huron refugees here on Christian Island, which the Hurons...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sacred Heart College

The Society of Jesus opened a classical college at this site in 1913. The next year the province granted Sacred Heart College a charter giving it degree-granting powers. At first the college was...

The Society of Jesus opened a classical college at this site in 1913. The next year the province granted Sacred Heart College a charter giving it degree-granting powers. At first the college...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Saint-Louis

Saint-Louis was the name given by the Jesuits to the stockaded village of the Ataronchronon tribe of the Wendat, or Huron Confederacy, which stood here in the 1640's. On the morning of 16 March...

Saint-Louis was the name given by the Jesuits to the stockaded village of the Ataronchronon tribe of the Wendat, or Huron Confederacy, which stood here in the 1640's. On the morning of 16...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Andrew's Church 1832

The Presbyterian congregation at L'Orignal was organized about 1822 by the Rev. John McLaurin, who visited L'Orignal as minister of the Church of Scotland for the Lochiel pastorate. In 1823...

The Presbyterian congregation at L'Orignal was organized about 1822 by the Rev. John McLaurin, who visited L'Orignal as minister of the Church of Scotland for the Lochiel pastorate. In...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Sam Hughes, 1953-1921

Soldier, journalist, imperialist and Member of Parliament for Lindsay from 1892 to 1921, Sam Hughes helped to create a distinctively Canadian Army. As Minister of Militia and Defence (1911-1916)...

Soldier, journalist, imperialist and Member of Parliament for Lindsay from 1892 to 1921, Sam Hughes helped to create a distinctively Canadian Army. As Minister of Militia and Defence (1911-1916)...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. James Church 1826

Among Augusta Township's earliest settlers were a number of Anglican Loyalists who, by 1785, were holding services in private houses. The first resident missionary, the Reverend John Bethune, was...

Among Augusta Township's earliest settlers were a number of Anglican Loyalists who, by 1785, were holding services in private houses. The first resident missionary, the Reverend John Bethune, was...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Adam Beck 1857-1925

Born at Baden, Ontario, Beck became a manufacturer in London which he represented in the Legislative Assembly (1902-19 and 1923-25). A member of the provincial cabinet (1905-14 and 1923-25) he...

Born at Baden, Ontario, Beck became a manufacturer in London which he represented in the Legislative Assembly (1902-19 and 1923-25). A member of the provincial cabinet (1905-14 and 1923-25)...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

St. Raphael's Ruins

The extraordinary ruins of this church recall the early history of Roman Catholicism in Upper Canada. Begun in 1815, St. Raphael's Church originally served as the centre of the colony's largest...

The extraordinary ruins of this church recall the early history of Roman Catholicism in Upper Canada. Begun in 1815, St. Raphael's Church originally served as the centre of the colony's largest...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Scugog Route

This river and lake formed part of an Indian route from the Kawartha and Algonquin Park areas to Lake Ontario. During the French Regime efforts were made to prevent English traders from the Oswego...

This river and lake formed part of an Indian route from the Kawartha and Algonquin Park areas to Lake Ontario. During the French Regime efforts were made to prevent English traders from the...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe 1763-1851

On October 13, 1812, following Isaac Brock's death in a preceding assault, Major-General Sheaffe assumed command and led a successful attack which dislodged an invading American force from...

On October 13, 1812, following Isaac Brock's death in a preceding assault, Major-General Sheaffe assumed command and led a successful attack which dislodged an invading American force...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Scotch Settlement 1819

In 1815 some 140 Highland Scots from Lord Selkirk's Red River Settlement, disheartened by crop failures and the opposition of the North West Company, moved to Upper Canada. Transported in the...

In 1815 some 140 Highland Scots from Lord Selkirk's Red River Settlement, disheartened by crop failures and the opposition of the North West Company, moved to Upper Canada. Transported in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

The Sinking of the "Waubuno" 1879

This anchor, recovered in 1959, belonged to the steamer "Waubuno", a wooden sidewheeler of some 180 tonnes which was built at Port Robinson in 1865. She carried freight and passengers in the...

This anchor, recovered in 1959, belonged to the steamer "Waubuno", a wooden sidewheeler of some 180 tonnes which was built at Port Robinson in 1865. She carried freight and passengers in...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown

Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church

Salem Chapel, built in 1855, was an important centre of 19th-century abolitionist and civil rights activity in Canada. Harriet Tubman, the famous Underground Railroad "conductor", lived near here...

Salem Chapel, built in 1855, was an important centre of 19th-century abolitionist and civil rights activity in Canada. Harriet Tubman, the famous Underground Railroad "conductor", lived near here...

  • toronto
  • ontario
  • alan brown