Whangarei, New Zealand

Look Down:   Now commemorated in a plaza-side plaque are the three anchors of social life in the 19th century.  Here is the ecclesiastical family that served the first families of Whangarei: the Church of England for the English, the Presbyterian Church for the Scots, and the Methodist Church for the Welsh.  [2011]

Whangarei, New Zealand

Look Down:  One of the plaques under foot in Whangarei's city centre is a reproduction of the plan for creating a new town to the north of Auckland.  The date was 1866.  Notice the old spelling: Wangarei.  A primary source, lifted from the archives, has been made available for everyone to see.  [2011]

Whangarei, New Zealand

Look Down:  Whangarei's city centre has been turned into a modern pedestrian precinct.  What makes the urban landscape unique, however, is the history under foot.  Documents, scenes, and historical facts from Whangarei's past are molded into the plaques at the plaza's edge.  It's like a short course on the city's evolution.  ]2011]

Southampton, England

Gates and Walls:  No wall in this picture.  But, brick lineations under foot are used  to tell a story that began with the Norman invasion.  Using words, remanants of the past, and and crafty geometry, Southampton has made its history public and reduced the monopoly of professional historians.  [2011] 

Southampton, England

Gates and Walls:  Southampton was heavily fortified, and the North Town Wall has survived.  The placard, placed under authority of the City of Southampton, provides just enough information for the reader to be impressed with the city's history.  [2011]

Southampton, England

Gates and Walls:  Southampton is lucky to have its medieval main gain, the Bargate.  Its marker is perfectly positioned to facilitate a visual comparison between yesterday and today.  How much less effective would the photograph be if the placard were located in the pedestrian passageway or on an outside wall?  [2011]

Venice, Florida

History Under Foot:  Plazas as well as sidewalks provide opportunities to help the public visualize their place in the world: in this case, the world of urban planning.  The map used to lay out Venice in the 1920s has become a permanent part of the city's narrative, thanks to the power of one medallion.  [2009]

Sydney, New South Wales

History Under Foot:  To Australians, wool was the golden fleece.  The market was in England, but the trade was localized here on Sydney's Macquarie Street.  The sidewalk medallion makes it possible to turn back the pages of history in the context of a real place.  And, it occupies no space at all.  [2006]

Denver, Colorado

History Under Foot:  On pavements, historical markers can take the form of medallions and be just as effective as roadside placards.  The first traffic signal with a pedestrian walk component was installed (a) 30, (b) 60, (c) 90 years ago.  Just read what's under foot in Denver to find out.  Why waste any open space?  [2005]

Washington, DC

Federal Triangle Heritage Trail:  Here is the verso of the marker at Stop 11 in front of the Old Post Office Building, the former seat of the Post Office Department.  This side carries a map showing Heritage Trail markers and an iconic photograph right out of the archives.  [2012]

Washington, DC

Federal Triangle Heritage Trail:  While you are waiting in line to get into the National Archives, you can catch a glimpse of the Archives being built.  It's just too bad the crowds aren't lining up at the historical marker.  They are virtually all looking down at their iphones (which is where the markers of the future will be).  [2012]

Washington, DC

Federal Triangle Heritage Trail:  A string of 16 two-sided, free-standing placards presents the history of DC's Federal Triangle.  Stop 3 puts you in eye-shot of the FBI and introduces you to J. Edgar Hoover.  The theme of all these markers is landscape change.  [2012]

Purcellville, Virginia

Here, Near, and Far:  So, the roots of air travel are really in Virginia.  Take that North Carolina and Ohio!  But, this marker should be in Hillsboro not six miles away.  Wright?  [2006]