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

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Plaque Of The Day

Albert Einstein blue plaque

myf says, "I like this one because it's so unexpected - such a great scientist, in a hut, in the middle of Norfolk!"

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

Captain Mary B. Greene. 1868-1949. Mary Green was born the daughter of a country storekeeper. When she married Captain Gordon C. Greene, she left the land to make her life and raise her family on the rivers of America. Captain Mary was one of the few women to become a licensed boat master and river pilot. The exploits of Mary Greene are legendary. She steered through a cyclone, survived an explosion of nitroglycerine, and gave birth to a son while her boat was locked in an ice gorge. After the death of her husband, in 1927, Captain Mary ran the 28 paddlewheelers of the Greeneline Steamers Company, including the Delta Queen. This sculpture made possible by: Central Trust of Kenton County, Kentucky National Bank, Huntington Bank of Kenton County. Sculptor: Michael Price. An official project of the Greater Cincinnati Bicentennial Commission, 1988.

Riverside Drive at George Rogers Clark Park, Covington, KY, United States

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Near to this point stood an earlier Lifeboat House before being replaced by a new building on Coble Landing in 1894

Promenade, Filey, United Kingdom

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In memory of Benjamin Hadley Sanders 50 years clerk to the Bromsgrove Local Board presented by his daughters 1910

The Strand / Stourbridge Road, Bromsgrove, United Kingdom

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Charles Rolls 1877-1910 Pioneer of Motoring and Aviation, worked here 1905-1910

14/15 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom

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In questa umile casa il V Gennaio MDCCCXXIV nacque Tito Sarrocchi scultore insegne a mostrar con opere mirabili vivente ancora nella citta di Iacopo della Quercia la virtu della sua scuala

English translation: In this humble house, on January 5th MDCCCXXIV, Tito Sarrocchi was born, a sculptor who taught to show with admirable works still living in the city of Iacopo della Quercia the virtue of his school. [AWS Translate]

Via Tito Sarrocchi, Siena, Italy

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Here fell Insp Stephen Dodd PS Noel Lane WPC Jane Arbuthnot 17th December 1983

Harrods, Hans Crescent, SW1, London, United Kingdom

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Lorenzo Ghiberti [full inscription unknown]

, Florence, Italy

Aldwark. Meaning Old Fortification - probably Roman. Nearby was the site of St. Helen-on-the-Walls, demolished c. 1550. The adjacent residential development was carried out by Shepherd Homes Limited in 1980. It was the first major implementation of the recommendation in the Report of Lord Esher (1968) that a return to living within the city walls should be encouraged.

Aldwark , York, United Kingdom

Warwick Town Trail #05

The Friends' Meeting House - The Great Fire started close by 5th September 1694 - < Westgate 6 - ^ Leycester Hospital 4

High Street, Warwick, United Kingdom

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A PERENNE RICONOSCENTE MEMORIA DI DON ALDO MORATTI NEL 50° ANNIVERSARIO DELLA MORTE POLISPORTIVA CASTELLANA BOCCIOFILA CASTELLANA ASSOCIAZIONE DON ALDO MORATTI

English translation: A PERENNIAL GRATEFUL MEMORY OF DON ALDO MORATTI ON THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH POLYISPORTIVA CASTELLANA BOCCIOFILA CASTELLANA ASSOCIATION DON ALDO MORATTI [AWS Translate]

Via Puccini, Castel Goffredo, Italy

Elizabeth Bowen 1899-1973 writer was born and spent her first seven winters in this house

15 Herbert Place, Dublin, Ireland

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The Mitre Built in the 1500s, The Mitre is renowned for having the remains of a fruit tree growing in the front bar that is said a young Elizabeth I and Sir Christopher Hatton danced around to celebrate May Day

1 Ely Court, Farringdon, EC1N 6SJ, London, United Kingdom

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