Documenting the historical links between people and places as recorded by commemorative plaques

explore 54130 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 54130 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

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Plaque Of The Day

Bram Stoker black plaque

Jez says, "The windswept views of Whitby bay inspired Bram Stoker, now you can sit in the same spot!"

Place Of The Day

Norwich, United Kingdom

Norwich has a long history. It has been a city since 1094. From the Middle Ages until the Industrial Revolution, Norwich was the largest city in England after London and one of the most important. This is refelected in its plaques.

Most-viewed plaques

In the last 11 years, between 20 May 2009 to 6 Jan 2021, Open Plaques had 4,530,517 page views from 1,234,480 users. Some were triggered by internet memes such as Steve Ullathorne's 2012 image of a George Orwell plaque with a CCTV camera next to it. Others, such as those for Alan Turing, were probably triggered by an anniversary and campaign for recognition.

  1. George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist & political essayist lived here (19526 page views)
  2. Jacob von Hogflume 1864-1909 Inventor of time travel. lived here in 2189 (15077 page views)
  3. George Orwell 1903-1950 novelist and political essayist lived here (6390 page views)
  4. Jimi Hendrix 1942-1970 guitarist and songwriter lived here 1968-1969 (5714 page views)
  5. Alan Turing 1912-1954 founder of computer science and cryptographer, whose work was key to breaking the wartime Enigma codes, lived and died here. (4085 page views)
  6. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1859-1930 creator of Sherlock Holmes lived here 1891-1894 (3846 page views)
  7. Alan Turing 1912-1954 code breaker lived here from 1945-1947 (3679 page views)
  8. This building housed the offices of Charles Dickens' magazine 'All The Year Round' and his private apartments 1859-1870 (3339 page views)
  9. Dame Agatha Christie 1890-1976 detective novelist and playwright lived here 1934-1941 (3027 page views)
  10. The Peterloo Massacre. On 16th August 1819, a peaceful rally of 60,000 pro-democracy reformers, men, women and children was attacked by armed cavalry resulting in 15 deaths and over 600 injuries. (3006 page views)

recently photographed plaques

Marion & Steve on Flickr All Rights Reserved

Norman Heatley DM 1911-2004 biochemist, key member of the Oxford penicillin team 1939-42 lived here 1946-2004

12 Oxford Road, Old Marston, Oxford, United Kingdom

Subjects

Hier wohnte Otto Guthmann jg. 1885 Deportiert 4.3.1943 Ermordet in Auschwitz

English translation: Here lived Otto Guthmann born 1885 deported 4.3.1943 murdered in Auschwitz

Lemkestr. 156, Marzahn-Hellersdorf, Berlin, Germany

Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #05152

Sunshine Cemetery. From the late 1800's until the early 1940's, the Sunshine Community encompasses this part of what is now Corpus Christi. The small farming and ranching settlement, also known as encinal, boasted a school, union church, and post office. The sunshine school was in operation from 1887 until 1942, when it was consolidated with the Aberdeen School. Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, and other denominations alternated Sunday services at the Union Church. The post office and the cemetery at this site are the only physical remnants of the Sunshine Community. The oldest marked grave in the cemetery, that of Ethel Eva Capeheart, is dated 1903. Tombstones in the Sunshine Cemetery reflect the family names of some of the early settlers who came to the area. John James Parry (d. 1920), a native of Wales, came to Texas in 1872. A farmer and rancher, Parry also preached Baptist services at the Union Church. His wife, Mary Elizabeth (1854-1935), and five of their ten children and buried in the Parry Family plot. The Haney Family section includes the burial site of James Silas Haney (1871-1939), his wife Ella Smith (1882-1962), and seven of their ten children. Other members of the Sunshine Community and their descendants also are buried here. #5152

Rodd Field at Woolridge, Corpus Christi, TX, United States

Jean Muir 1928-1995 dressmaker and fashion designer worked here 1966-1995

22 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom

Subjects
Texas Historical Marker #05622

Uz Community. Named by early settlers for a town mentioned in the Biblical Book of Job, Uz was a farming community whose economy was based on the cotton crop. In existence by the 1870s, the town reached its peak in the early 1900s. At its height the community included homes, stores, churches, a cotton gin, school, post office, and telephone exchange. The post office was discontinued in 1907, and the school was merged with the Forestburg schools in 1931. A boll weevil infestation in the 1930s destroyed the cotton crop and signalled the decline of the Uz community. (1990) #5622

FM 1655, 4 mi. S of Forestburg, Forestburg, TX, United States

Adeiladwyd oddeutu 1715 Built Circa 1715 Repaired 2005 Atgyweiriwyd 2005

Castle Reception, 1 Green Street, Cardigan, United Kingdom

First shop in Beacon Hill. J. H. Read & Son Family Grocer 1904-1974 Reads Corner

The Corner House, Beacon Hill Road, Beacon Hill, United Kingdom

Subjects

In 985 AD King Ethelred granted land around here to the Lady Wulfrun. Who in turn granted extensive lands to the monastery at Heantune in 994. She wanted to create a minster church with a college of priests who would go out and preach the gospel to people in outlying districts. Soon her name was combined with the original name to become Wulfrenchamplonia and a short time later to Wolverhampton. On the steps you can see an except from the second charter in which Lady Wulfrun grants land to the monastery.

Steps to St Peter's Collegiate Church from St Peter's Square - St Peter's Gardens, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

The site of the Darien House built 1698.

, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The first purpose-built public library in Soweto, the Orlando East Public opened in 1950. Built by trainees of the Orlando Vocational Training Centre, it was bigger than the existing public library branches in Johannesburg. At the time, this was probably the most significant public library for Africans in the country. The library received a special gift in 1963, with the donation of the private book collection of Dr. A.B. Xuma, a former ANC President. The facility was upgraded and extended in 2000, and remains the oldest active library in Soweto.

Mooki Street, Orlando East, Soweto, Gauteng, Soweto, South Africa

Texas Historical Marker #13882

Shafer Saddlery. On site of cabin used (1848) as first county courthouse. This frontier saddlery, erected 1870 of hand-cut limestone by John H. Shafer, had living quarters upstairs. Since 1872 occupants have been attorneys, a newspaper, and many other tenants. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971 #13882

711 Main St, Georgetown, TX, United States

Smithsonian Institution Building has been designated a Registered National Historic Landmark under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States. U.S. Department of the Interior. National Park Service.

The National Mall, Washington, DC, United States