A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.
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The most recent plaques:

The View from Here

Looking across the Bay you can see the expanse of estuarine water and distant hills of South San Francisco and San Mateo. There, Spanish explorers first viewed San Francisco Bay less than 250...

Looking across the Bay you can see the expanse of estuarine water and distant hills of South San Francisco and San Mateo. There, Spanish explorers first viewed San Francisco Bay less than 250...

  • east bay reg...
  • alameda point

Wildlife at Alameda Point

The waters of San Francisco Bay surrounding the island of Alameda support a rich diversity of life. The rocky shoreline of Alameda Point provides a surface where many different kinds of plants and...

The waters of San Francisco Bay surrounding the island of Alameda support a rich diversity of life. The rocky shoreline of Alameda Point provides a surface where many different kinds of plants and...

  • east bay reg...
  • alameda point

Alaska Packers Association

The Bay Area once lead the world in the export of salmon. In nineteenth-century San Francisco, more than a dozen companies were involved in packing and distributing salmon harvested from Alaskan...

The Bay Area once lead the world in the export of salmon. In nineteenth-century San Francisco, more than a dozen companies were involved in packing and distributing salmon harvested from...

  • fishing
  • sailing
  • maritime industry
  • port

Where the World Comes to Oakland

The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 made way for new trade routes that led to a shipping boom in the post-war world of the 1920s. By 1925, Oakland was ready to capitalize on growing...

The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 made way for new trade routes that led to a shipping boom in the post-war world of the 1920s. By 1925, Oakland was ready to capitalize on...

  • shipping
  • harbor
  • port
  • maritime industry

Houseboats on the Waterfront

Preparations for World War II ended plans of filling the Southwest yacht basins with pleasure crafts. Instead, a severe housing shortage during the war turned the waterfront into a home for...

Preparations for World War II ended plans of filling the Southwest yacht basins with pleasure crafts. Instead, a severe housing shortage during the war turned the waterfront into a home...

  • washington dc
  • wharf

Urban Renewal

At the beginning of the 20th century, Southwest was considered a decaying neighborhood suffering from poor housing and urban blight. In 1945, the Redevelopment Land Agency was created and its...

At the beginning of the 20th century, Southwest was considered a decaying neighborhood suffering from poor housing and urban blight. In 1945, the Redevelopment Land Agency was created and...

  • washington dc
  • wharf

African-American History in Southwest

The Southwest Waterfront's history is closely tied to African-American history. Leading up to the Civil War, many people of color - those still enslaved as well as some freed individuals - lived...

The Southwest Waterfront's history is closely tied to African-American history. Leading up to the Civil War, many people of color - those still enslaved as well as some freed individuals -...

  • washington dc
  • wharf

Maliebaan

This plaque tells the history of this long straight lane in Utrecht. It was created in 1637, as a 700 meters long track for the "maliespel" game, which is like a forerunner of golf and croquet....

This plaque tells the history of this long straight lane in Utrecht. It was created in 1637, as a 700 meters long track for the "maliespel" game, which is like a forerunner of golf and croquet....

  • maliebaan
  • historic street

Maliebaan bicycle lane

The long and straight lane "maliebaan" was created as sports track in 1637 (see the plaque at the other end of the street). After the game died out it became a regular street in the growing city...

The long and straight lane "maliebaan" was created as sports track in 1637 (see the plaque at the other end of the street). After the game died out it became a regular street in the growing city...

  • maliebaan
  • historic street
  • bicycle lane

Valentine Residence

“Kid” Thomas Valentine (1897-1987), trumpeter and bandleader, lived here at 825 Vallette Street in 1928. Born in Reserve, LA he moved to Algiers in 1923. He played at Speck’s Moulin Rouge in...

“Kid” Thomas Valentine (1897-1987), trumpeter and bandleader, lived here at 825 Vallette Street in 1928. Born in Reserve, LA he moved to Algiers in 1923. He played at Speck’s Moulin Rouge in...

  • louisiana
  • music
  • jazz
  • new orleans