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

explore 53340 plaques

So far, plaque hunters around the world have found, photographed, and curated 53340 plaques. Use the search box in the top-right corner, or browse plaques by person, place

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Plaque Of The Day

Edward Elgar, George Robertson Sinclair, and Dan blue plaque

Jez says, "This plaque is insane. It explains how Variation No.11 of Sir Edward Elgar's Variations on an Original Theme (Enigma) is about an incident Dan The Bulldog falling into the River Wye"

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

Kentucky Historical Marker #0091

Johnston Birthplace. Near here on February 3, 1803, General Albert Sidney Johnston, Confederate leader, was born. He resigned from the U.S. Army in 1861 to join the South. Killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862.

Main St., Washington, ,

Sandbach Town Hall Foundation stone laid on 2nd July 1889, designed by Thomas Bower (Nantwich) and built by John Stringer of Sandbach, the site and perpetual right to all the market tolls was gifted to the town by Rt Hon. Hungerford Lord Crewe

High Street, Sandbach, United Kingdom

Subjects

Venäläiset linnoittivat Suomen 1912-1917 tavoitteenaan suojata Pietari mahdolliselta Saksan hyökkäykseltä. Helsinki ympäröitiin meri- ja maavarustuksin. Tämä on yksi Kontulan kolmesta bunkkerista, jotka kuuluivat sen maarintaman itäisen lohkon tukikohtaan VI. Ryssarna befäste Finland 1912-1917 för att skydda S:T Petersburg för ett väntat tyskt anfall. Helsingfors omgavs med sjö- och landbefästningar. Detta är en av tre bunkrar i Gårdsbacka. Bunkrarna hörde till alndfrontens östra avsnitt, stödjepunkt VI.

English translation: The Russians fortified Finland from 1912 to 1917 with the goal of protecting Saint Petersburg from a possible German invasion. Helsinki was surrounded with sea and land equipment. This is one of the three bunkers in Kontula that belonged to Base VI of the eastern block of its land front.

, Helsinki, Finland

Subjects
Berkhamsted Heritage Walk #10

The Goat rebuilt 19th C.

The Goat, 83 High Street, Berkhamsted, United Kingdom

Subjects

Andrew Marschalk. Site of the printery of "father of Mississippi journalism." Printed first book in state, 1799. Became first public printer and in 1802 founded famed newspaper "Mississippi Herald."

?, Natchez, MS, United States

Subjects

A building on this site circa 1571 was used as a court house and prison. Rebuilt in 1695, the clock, bell & materials were from Lord's Island on Derwent Water. Again Rebuilt 1813.

Moot Hall, Market Square, Keswick, United Kingdom

In a house on this site lived Gregory de Rokesley eight times Mayor of London 1274-1281 and 1285

72 Lombard Street, EC3, London, United Kingdom

Subjects

Seeking a fairer society in Norfolk, Robert Kett supported by his brother William, led a rebellion of more than 15000 people in 1549. The rising was crushed and over 3000 died. On 7th December1549 Robert was hanged for treason at Norwich Castle and William from Wymondham Abbey's west tower. This plaque was erected in 1999 to remember the man and his struggle for a more just society in Norfolk.

Church Street, Wymondham, United Kingdom

Subjects

Arturo Mazza [full inscription unknown]

, Bologna, Italy

Ici le 16 Juillet 1942 furent incarceres avant d'etre transferes au Velodrome d'Hiver puis deportes dans des camps d'extermination nazis des hommes des femmes et des enfants Juifs habitants du 3eme arrondissement

English translation: Here on 16 July 1942 were incarcerated before being transferred to the Winter Velodrome and then deported to Nazi extermination camps of men of women and children Jewish inhabitants of the 3rd district [AWS Translate]

14 rue de Bretagne, Paris, France

Kentucky Historical Marker #0032

Big Bone Lick, Three Miles. Discovered in 1739 by French Capt. Charles Lemoyne de Longueil. Early explorers found countless bones and teeth of extinct Pleistocene elephants, the mammoth and the mastodon. This saline-sulphur spring was popular for salt making until 1812; also a health resort from 1815-30. Its waters were noted for mildly curative qualities. (Reverse) Big Bone Lick: Robert Smith, an Indian trader, recognized the significance of the large bones. From 1751-80, Big Bone Lick had many visitors, including Christopher Gist, John Finley, Mary Ingles, John Floyd and the McAfee brothers. Thomas Jefferson sent expedition headed by William Clark to collect bones; the next largest collector was N. S. Shaler. Some tusks measured 8-10 feet long. For more information, see ExploreKYHistory: Big Bone Lick, Three Miles

3380 Beaver Rd., Union, KY, United States

William Nichol, martyr. Burnt at the stake 'for the truth' on April 9th 1558. [full inscription unknown]

Dark Street, Haverfordwest, United Kingdom

Subjects