Berkeley Historical Plaque Project facts for kids
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The Berkeley Historical Plaque Project is a group that started in 1997. It's a special kind of non-profit organization in Berkeley, California. Their main goal is to show off Berkeley's history by putting up plaques (like special signs) in important places. Many groups help them, including the City of Berkeley, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA), and the Berkeley Historical Society (BHS).
The people in the Project work with building owners to create and put up unique green oval plaques. These plaques show the names, dates, and importance of historic buildings. There are also rectangular plaques with a cream-white background. These mark other interesting historical spots and often include an old photo of the place.
In 2002, the Project received a "President’s Award" from the California Preservation Foundation. This award recognized their amazing work in saving and celebrating history. In the same year, the Mayor and City Council of Berkeley praised the Project members. They thanked them for their hard work in making Berkeley's history a lively part of the community today.
Discovering History with e-Plaques
What are e-Plaques?
In 2012, the Plaque Project launched a website to share all their work. This website lets you explore "e-Plaques," which are like virtual historical markers. You can find plaques organized by different areas on interactive maps. Each e-plaque includes old photos and links to articles, talks, and videos.
How e-Plaques Expand History
The e-Plaques help the Project share history even further. They document historic buildings, homes where famous Berkeley residents lived, and even special natural spots. The website also uses "crowd-sourcing." This means people like you can help by adding more information and photos. Over time, this part of the website will grow into a big, shared picture of Berkeley's past.
