# Read the Plaque
**Wikidata**: [Q115773942](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115773942)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/read-the-plaque

## Summary
Read the Plaque is a website and online database described as a "gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world." Owned by the organization 99% Invisible, it serves as a centralized platform for discovering and cataloging historical markers. The project maintains an active online presence through its website and social media channels.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Instance of a website and online database.
- **Ownership:** Owned by 99% Invisible.
- **Website Domain:** Accessible at `https://www.readtheplaque.com/`.
- **Project Description:** Self-described as "A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world."
- **Twitter Launch:** The project's official Twitter account (@readtheplaque) was created on August 20, 2015.
- **Social Media Handles:** Maintains a presence on Twitter (`@readtheplaque`) and Facebook (`readtheplaque`).
- **Twitter Identifier:** The account possesses the Twitter ID `3321788408`.

## FAQs
### Q: What exactly is Read the Plaque?
A: Read the Plaque is an online database and website that functions as a global map for historical plaques and markers. It aggregates these markers into a single searchable interface.

### Q: Who owns or operates Read the Plaque?
A: The website and database are owned by 99% Invisible, an organization known for its focus on design and architecture.

### Q: When was the project established online?
A: While the website serves as the main hub, the project's associated Twitter account was established on August 20, 2015.

## Why It Matters
Read the Plaque serves as a digital preservation tool and a specialized geographic database, bridging the gap between physical history and digital accessibility. By categorizing itself as a "gigantic map," the project addresses the fragmentation of historical data typically found on standalone markers scattered across the globe. It transforms localized, static physical objects into a searchable, networked collection.

The project's significance is further highlighted by its ownership by 99% Invisible, an entity renowned for exploring the unnoticed design and structural elements of the world. This association suggests that Read the Plaque is not merely a directory, but a curated effort to highlight the "cool" and often overlooked narratives attached to specific locations. By centralizing these plaques, the platform provides users with a way to explore history geographically, making the "invisible" stories of the built environment visible to a wider audience.

## Notable For
- **Scope:** Billing itself as a "gigantic map" of global plaques, implying a vast and ambitious dataset.
- **Ownership:** Distinction of being owned by 99% Invisible, aligning it with high-quality design and storytelling standards.
- **Focus:** Specific dedication to "plaques"—a niche category of historical documentation often ignored by broader mapping services.
- **Classification:** Dual classification as both a standard website and a structured online database.

## Body
### Platform and Identity
Read the Plaque operates primarily as a web-based platform accessible via the domain `readtheplaque.com`. The site functions as an online database, structuring data around a map interface. The official title of the homepage, as indexed in references, is "Read the Plaque - A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world." The entity is explicitly classified as both a website and an online database.

### Organizational Structure
The project operates under the ownership of **99% Invisible**. This ownership connects the database to a broader ecosystem of design and architectural inquiry. An "About" page exists at `https://www.readtheplaque.com/about`, serving as the primary descriptive source for the project's mission and methodology.

### Social Media Footprint
The project established its digital social footprint in the mid-2010s. The official Twitter handle is **@readtheplaque**, which corresponds to the Twitter ID `3321788408`. The account was created (start time) on **August 20, 2015**. Activity and verification of this account were noted in reference data retrieved in December 2022. Additionally, the project maintains a presence on Facebook under the handle `readtheplaque`.

## References

1. [Read the Plaque - A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world](https://www.readtheplaque.com/)
2. [Read the Plaque](https://www.readtheplaque.com/about)
3. [readtheplaque (@readtheplaque) / Twitter](https://twitter.com/readtheplaque)
4. [(4) Read the Plaque | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/readtheplaque)