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

Campbell River Fire

On a hot day in July 1938, an ominous smoke pillar near Gosling Lake signalled a forest fire which was to ravage 115 square miles of logged and timbered land. Over 1500 firefighters battled grimly...

On a hot day in July 1938, an ominous smoke pillar near Gosling Lake signalled a forest fire which was to ravage 115 square miles of logged and timbered land. Over 1500 firefighters battled grimly...

  • british columbia
  • canada

Royal Presidio Chapel

1794  ROYAL PRESIDIO CHAPEL  The oldest building in Monterey, this is now the San Carlos Cathedral.

1794  ROYAL PRESIDIO CHAPEL  The oldest building in Monterey, this is now the San Carlos Cathedral.

  • monterey
  • california
  • 1794
  • presidio
  • cathedral
  • chapel

Italian Fishermen

1875  Italian Fishermen  Italian fishermen arrive in Monterey and joined the Chinese in harvesting fresh fish for shipment throughout California via the Monterey and Salinas Valley Railroad. This...

1875  Italian Fishermen  Italian fishermen arrive in Monterey and joined the Chinese in harvesting fresh fish for shipment throughout California via the Monterey and Salinas Valley Railroad. This...

  • monterey
  • california
  • 1875
  • italian
  • chinese
  • fresh-fish
  • fishing

The Slocan Mines

Silver was the key that opened the Slocan. Discovery in 1891 of the rich outcrops of the "Slocan Star" and "Payne" touched off the wildest lode excitement in our history. The silver-lead ore was...

Silver was the key that opened the Slocan. Discovery in 1891 of the rich outcrops of the "Slocan Star" and "Payne" touched off the wildest lode excitement in our history. The silver-lead ore was...

  • british columbia
  • canada

West Kootenay Power

When hydro-electric power was first delivered from No. 1 plan to Rossland's mines in 1898, the 32 mile transmission lines were the longest on the continent. Utilizing the 360-foot drop from...

When hydro-electric power was first delivered from No. 1 plan to Rossland's mines in 1898, the 32 mile transmission lines were the longest on the continent. Utilizing the 360-foot drop...

  • british columbia
  • canada

Eagle Pass (Sign missing)

In 1865 Walter Moberly, government engineer, was searching for a railway route through these rugged Monashee Mountains. He shot at an eagle's nest, and observed the birds fly into a river valley....

In 1865 Walter Moberly, government engineer, was searching for a railway route through these rugged Monashee Mountains. He shot at an eagle's nest, and observed the birds fly into a river...

  • british columbia
  • canada
  • rewritebc

Prospector to Premier (Sign missing)

Lured from Canada to the Fraser goldfields in 1859, John Robson started a radical newspaper in 1861 at New Westminster and was elected to the legislature in 1867. A fiery critic of colonial rule,...

Lured from Canada to the Fraser goldfields in 1859, John Robson started a radical newspaper in 1861 at New Westminster and was elected to the legislature in 1867. A fiery critic of colonial rule,...

  • british columbia
  • canada

The Last Spike

A nebulous dream was a reality: an iron ribbon across Canada from sea to sea. Often following the footsteps of early explorers, nearly 3,000 miles of steel rail pushed across vast prairies, cleft...

A nebulous dream was a reality: an iron ribbon across Canada from sea to sea. Often following the footsteps of early explorers, nearly 3,000 miles of steel rail pushed across vast prairies,...

  • british columbia
  • canada

Skinner Bluff

 SKINNER BLUFF  An interesting series of ridges and bluffs assoc-iated with the Niagara Escarpment are visible from this site. At the top is a massive dolostone bluff, an erosional feature flanked...

 SKINNER BLUFF  An interesting series of ridges and bluffs assoc-iated with the Niagara Escarpment are visible from this site. At the top is a massive dolostone bluff, an erosional feature flanked...

  • ontario
  • canada
  • bluff

Samish Unit Restoration

Samish Unit Restoration A cooperative wetland restoration project supported by Ducks Unlimited, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Topics Entertainment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife...

Samish Unit Restoration A cooperative wetland restoration project supported by Ducks Unlimited, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Topics Entertainment and the U.S. Fish and...

  • samish
  • washington
  • ducks unlimited

Monterey Bay Aquarium

  • monterey
  • california
  • 1984
  • packard

Eichler Plaza

Oddly fascinating: the lone Eichler shopping center (in Palo Alto) comes w/ historical plaques from 2014 renovation Submitted by @JohnKingSFChron via Tweet

Oddly fascinating: the lone Eichler shopping center (in Palo Alto) comes w/ historical plaques from 2014 renovation Submitted by @JohnKingSFChron via Tweet

  • palo alto
  • california
  • eichler
  • shopping
  • plaza

Frigate Arbella

  TO COMMEMORATE THE ARRIVAL ON JUNE 12, 1620 OF THE FRIGATE ARBELLA BRINGING GOVERNOR WINTHROP AND THE CHARTER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY.  THIS TABLE IS PLACE BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DAUGHTERS...

  TO COMMEMORATE THE ARRIVAL ON JUNE 12, 1620 OF THE FRIGATE ARBELLA BRINGING GOVERNOR WINTHROP AND THE CHARTER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY.  THIS TABLE IS PLACE BY...

  • boston
  • massachusetts
  • winthrop
  • bay colony

Here Lies King James VII of Scotland

IN THIS CHURCH IS THE SHRINE TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES II THE LAST STUART KING OF ENGLAND WHO DIED IN EXILE AT THE CASTLE OF ST GERMAIN-EN-LAYE ON SEPTEMBER 16TH 1701  THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED...

IN THIS CHURCH IS THE SHRINE TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES II THE LAST STUART KING OF ENGLAND WHO DIED IN EXILE AT THE CASTLE OF ST GERMAIN-EN- LAYE ON SEPTEMBER 16TH 1701  THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED...

  • france
  • scotland
  • james
  • queen victoria
  • st germain-en-laye

Blue Star Memorial Highway, Valley Lode District

  • valley lode
  • westley
  • california
  • blue star

Bryant Station Site

Bryant Station was the terminus of the California and Nevada Railroad, a narrow-gauge steam line which transported local harvests to the Emeryville docks. The railroad, formed in 1881, was...

Bryant Station was the terminus of the California and Nevada Railroad, a narrow-gauge steam line which transported local harvests to the Emeryville docks. The railroad, formed in 1881,...

  • orinda
  • california
  • train
  • railroad
  • emeryville
  • harvests
  • silver mining camp

The Burning of the Hell Ship "Reaper"

More information here and here.

More information here and here.

  • port ludlow
  • washington
  • hell ship
  • ship
  • fire

Honoring Ina Donna Coolbrith

HONORING  IDA DONNA COOLBRITH  1841 - 1928  OAKLAND'S FIRST LIBRARY DIRECTORY  1878 - 1892  CALIFORNIA'S FIRST POET LAUREATE  1915 - 1928 AND A MENTOR TO  DISTINGUISHED CALIFORNIA WRITERS ...

HONORING  IDA DONNA COOLBRITH  1841 - 1928  OAKLAND'S FIRST LIBRARY DIRECTORY  1878 - 1892  CALIFORNIA'S FIRST POET LAUREATE  1915 - 1928 AND A MENTOR TO  DISTINGUISHED CALIFORNIA...

  • oakland
  • california
  • bay area
  • coolbrith
  • library
  • poet
  • london
  • joaquin

Lake Merritt Municipal Boathouse

  • oakland
  • california
  • bay area
  • lake
  • boathouse
  • 2009

Oakland Public Library

OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY  BUILT WITH BOND ISSUE FUNDS VOTED BY THE PEOPLE OF OAKLAND IN 1945 DEDICATED JANUARY 1951   

OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY  BUILT WITH BOND ISSUE FUNDS VOTED BY THE PEOPLE OF OAKLAND IN 1945 DEDICATED JANUARY 1951 

  • oakland
  • california
  • bay area
  • library
  • pease
  • 1945
  • warnecke