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

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...

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  • 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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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The Founders of Fergus

Adam Fergusson (1782-1862) first visited Canada in 1831 to investigate emigration for the Highland Society of Scotland. In 1833, in partnership with a fellow Scot, James Webster (1808-69), he...

Adam Fergusson (1782-1862) first visited Canada in 1831 to investigate emigration for the Highland Society of Scotland. In 1833, in partnership with a fellow Scot, James Webster (1808-69),...

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  • ontario
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The French Presence in Cornwall

A vital cultural force in Eastern Ontario, the Franco-Ontarian community in Cornwall was established during the late 1870s when large-scale industrial expansion led to an influx of workers and...

A vital cultural force in Eastern Ontario, the Franco-Ontarian community in Cornwall was established during the late 1870s when large-scale industrial expansion led to an influx of workers and...

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The Founding of Bracebridge

In 1862 the Muskoka Road, a colonization route built to open this region for settlement, was completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River. A settlement, including a...

In 1862 the Muskoka Road, a colonization route built to open this region for settlement, was completed to the first falls on the north branch of the Muskoka River. A settlement, including...

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First Newspaper 1793

The Upper Canada Gazette or American Oracle, first newspaper in what is now Ontario, was published in the town of Niagara. Its first issue, edited by Louis Roy, appeared April 18, 1793. On this...

The Upper Canada Gazette or American Oracle, first newspaper in what is now Ontario, was published in the town of Niagara. Its first issue, edited by Louis Roy, appeared April 18, 1793. On this...

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  • alan brown

The Founding of Stratford

In 1832, some three years after company surveyors had erected shanties near this site, the Canada Company, a large private land settlement agency, initiated the development of " Little Thames" as...

In 1832, some three years after company surveyors had erected shanties near this site, the Canada Company, a large private land settlement agency, initiated the development of " Little Thames"...

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Founders of Campbellford

In 1831 two Scottish-born brothers, Lieut.-Col. Robert Campbell and Major David Campbell, were granted 890 ha of land in Seymour Township, which had been surveyed in 1819. Robert who had achieved...

In 1831 two Scottish-born brothers, Lieut.-Col. Robert Campbell and Major David Campbell, were granted 890 ha of land in Seymour Township, which had been surveyed in 1819. Robert who had...

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Founding of Parry Sound

About 1857 James and William Gibson erected a sawmill at the mouth of the Seguin River. William Beatty, with his sons James and William, acquired the mill in 1863, and the following year were...

About 1857 James and William Gibson erected a sawmill at the mouth of the Seguin River. William Beatty, with his sons James and William, acquired the mill in 1863, and the following year...

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The Founding of Chippawa

In 1792-94 a village grew up near Fort Chippawa on Chippawa Creek at the end of the new portage road from Queenston. In 1793 the creek was renamed the Welland River, but the village, where a...

In 1792-94 a village grew up near Fort Chippawa on Chippawa Creek at the end of the new portage road from Queenston. In 1793 the creek was renamed the Welland River, but the village, where a...

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The Founding of Cornwall

In June 1784 disbanded Loyalist soldiers and their families settled at New Johnstown, the site of present-day Cornwall. Initially called Pointe Maligne, the area had been visited by native traders...

In June 1784 disbanded Loyalist soldiers and their families settled at New Johnstown, the site of present-day Cornwall. Initially called Pointe Maligne, the area had been visited by native traders...

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The Founding of Bobcaygeon

In 1833, shortly after the settlement of this region began, Thomas Need settled here at "Bobcaygeon", the narrows between Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes. When the government began the construction in...

In 1833, shortly after the settlement of this region began, Thomas Need settled here at "Bobcaygeon", the narrows between Sturgeon and Pigeon Lakes. When the government began the construction in...

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The Founding of Newboro

The settlement of this area was begun during the building of the Rideau Canal in 1826-32 when a major construction camp was located here at the Isthmus. In 1833 Benjamin Tett, owner of a nearby...

The settlement of this area was begun during the building of the Rideau Canal in 1826-32 when a major construction camp was located here at the Isthmus. In 1833 Benjamin Tett, owner of a...

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The Founding of Erin

A small community developed here following the erection of mills on the Credit River about 1828-29. These were later rebuilt by Daniel McMillan. In 1839 a post-office, Erin, was established at...

A small community developed here following the erection of mills on the Credit River about 1828-29. These were later rebuilt by Daniel McMillan. In 1839 a post-office, Erin, was established at...

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The Founding of Sturgeon Falls

The development of Sturgeon Falls began in 1881 with the arrival of Canadian Pacific Railway constructions teams and the opening of a post office. About a year earlier the communities first...

The development of Sturgeon Falls began in 1881 with the arrival of Canadian Pacific Railway constructions teams and the opening of a post office. About a year earlier the communities...

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The Founding of Ancaster

In 1791 James Wilson in partnership with Richard Beasley built a sawmill and a grist-mill on the site of this community. The mills were sold to Jean Baptiste Rousseaux (known as St. John) in 1794...

In 1791 James Wilson in partnership with Richard Beasley built a sawmill and a grist-mill on the site of this community. The mills were sold to Jean Baptiste Rousseaux (known as St. John) in 1794...

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The Ferguson Highway

In 1925 the Ontario government began construction of this 320 km trunk-road between Cochrane and North Bay. The road was intended to link the rapidly developing mining and agricultural communities...

In 1925 the Ontario government began construction of this 320 km trunk-road between Cochrane and North Bay. The road was intended to link the rapidly developing mining and agricultural communities...

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