This tool maps thousands of plaques around the world, including hundreds near NYC
While most New Yorkers know the city has been full of historical events and figures since its founding, it’s sometimes hard to remember where all these significant milestones took place. An interactive map called “Read the Plaque” features 17,000 plaques found across the world, with over 100 in New York City alone. As part of the radio project 99% Invisible, Read the Plaque imports plaques from around the world, with each featuring locations, descriptions, and pictures.
According to the map’s makers, plaques are sorted by place and then accompanied by descriptive text and topical tags. Users can search for specific locations on the map and find plaques “near you” using a geo-location feature. Submissions of new plaques are always welcome.
It comes as no surprise that Lower Manhattan, considered the birthplace of NYC, has the most plaques in the city listed on the site, with over 50 plaques mapped. But plaques can be found in every borough and beyond, from one dedicated to the Unisphere in Queens to the Shorakkapoch Rock in Inwood Hill Park.
See some of the submissions New Yorkers made below:
Located on the corner of Pearl and Fulton Streets in Lower Manhattan
Found in Bowling Green Park
Located near the zoo in Prospect Park
Found on Malcolm X Boulevard
Explore the map here.
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