Hidden History
Sidewalk Nameplates
Beneath your boots, the past is pressed in concrete.
Before Erie’s stories were digitized, they were etched—by hand, by boot, by brass. Sidewalk stamps and embedded nameplates dot our city like quiet signatures, marking the names of long-gone contractors, forgotten civic pride, and cryptic commemorations. These modest markers are more than decorative—they’re time capsules, cast into the very bones of our streets. Some date back a century, others whisper of mid-century optimism or industrial grit. All of them ask the same thing: Did you notice me?
Below, you’ll find a slideshow of Erie’s sidewalk stamps and plaques. Click the arrow to the right of the photo viewer to step through each one—and see what’s been hiding in plain sight.
