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

explore 54164 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 54164 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

contribute

  • You are all part of our mission to find all of the plaques in the world!
  • Spotted one? Anyone can help us and add a plaque
  • Take a photo. Add it to Wikimedia Commons or Flickr and link it to our record
  • Spot an innaccuracy. Tell us.

Open Data

We believe that the purpose of historical markers is to bring history alive. So we have made the data open. Anybody can use it to builds apps, charts, whatever they wish.

news

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

Plaque Of The Day

Pandora Gallery film cell plaque

Jez says, "The Pandora Gallery plaque is one that I must have walked past a hundred times and never seen. It is on Brighton seafront and has been battered by the sea winds until you can hardly see the writing. "

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

Here fell PC Gary Toms 11 April 2009

Ashlin Road, E15, London, United Kingdom

Subjects

Tom Sayers pugilist, Champion of England born 1826 Pimlico, Brighton, Sussex. "Its' a mans game - it takes a game man to play it".

Guitar, Amp and Keyboard shop, North Street, Brighton, United Kingdom

Subjects

Crinkle-Crankle Walls Rare serpentine walls located east and west of the Old Rectory. The curving line gives strength, allowing them to stand high without buttresses and to expand without cracking in the sun. The curves trapped in the sun's warmth, encouraging the growth of fruit in the alcoves. Grade II listed

King Edward Place, Wheathampstead, United Kingdom

Subjects

In Memory of David Sinnett-Jones 1930-2004 A distinguished yachtsman, having survived cancer with the loss of a lung and part of his heart in his forties, took up the challenge of ocean sailing. From this harbour he sailed first to South Africa in a 26 foot boat, followed by a single handed voyage around the world in his self-built 'Zane Spray', becoming the first disabled single-handed Cape Horner. For his final voyage in 1999 he built a replica of the 'Liberdade' Used by his hero, Joshya Slocum, one hundred years earlier and re-enacted his voyage from Paranagua in Brazil to New York. A great hearted man with astonishing determination and courage

Quay Parade Pier, Aberaeron, United Kingdom

Subjects

This tablet is dedicated to the memory of W. Hartley of Dewsbury bandmaster, W. T. Brailey of London R. Bricoux of Lille, France J. F. Clarke of Liverpool J. L Hume of Dumfries G. Krins of Leige, Belgium P. C. Taylor of London J. W. Woodward of Headington members of the band on board the "Titanic", they bravely continued playing to soothe the anguish of their fellow passengers until the ship sank in the deep April 14th 1912. Courage and compassion joined make the man complete.

Entrance foyer, Royal Liverpool Philarmonic, Hope Street, L1 9BP, Liverpool, United Kingdom

Subjects

This station was opened on 23rd August 1864.

Station Avenue, Sandown, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Subjects

Degradation of Drunkenness. There is no sin which doth more deface God's image than drunkenness it disguiseth a person and doth even unman him. Drunkenness makes him have the throat of a fish, the belly of a swine and the head of an ass. Drunkenness is the shame of nature, the extinguisher of reason, the shipwreck of chastity and the murderer of conscience. Drunkenness is hurtful to the body, the cup kills more than the cannon, it causes dropsies, catarrhs, apoplexies, it fills the eye with fire and the legs with water and turns the body into an hospital.

Kirdford Road, Kirdford, United Kingdom

To commemorate Hugh MacNaghten who from 1899 to 1920 occupied Jourdelay's Place. This stone is set here by his old boys & pupils ΚΑΛOΣ ΚΑΓΑΘOΣ

Gulliver's End, High Street, Eton, United Kingdom

Subjects

To celebrate 21 years of the ICC the ICC 21 1991-2012 anniversary Since opening on 2nd April 1991 the ICC has developed an international reputation for excellence and has established itself as an award-winning venue where ideas are shared and the future is shaped. Unveiled on 7th October 2012 by The Prime Minister The Rt Hon David Cameron MP

Symphony Hall and The ICC, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Subjects

James Leatham 1865-1945 socialist, propagandist and journalist lived here

68 Schoolhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Subjects
Kentucky Historical Marker #0611

Noted Dueling Ground. 1819-27, known as Linkumpinch. Tennesseans fought two famous duels here. General Sam Houston, in September 1826, severely wounded General William White. Houston later Gov. of Tenn., U.S. Sen., and Gov. of Texas. March 1827, attorneys R. M. Brank and C. M. Smith dueled. Brank was killed. Smith disbarred by Tenn. court action which brought end of dueling here. See other side. (Reverse) Sanford Duncan Inn - Built about 1819, as stage coach inn, by Sanford Duncan, a large land owner and leader in forming Simpson County. Most of original structure remains. Linkumpinch, a famous dueling ground on Duncan's land, one mile south. Tennessee had outlawed dueling and during 1819-27 Inn was frequently host to notable antagonists, including General Sam Houston. See other side. Originally erected in 1964. For more information see, ExploreKYHistory: Noted Dueling Ground/Sanford Duncan Inn

Near Tennessee State Line, US 31-W South, ,

The studios of the artist Joseph Turner 1811-1829

Turner Studios, Glebe Place, World's End, Chelsea, London, United Kingdom

Subjects