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Toynbee Tiles
Detroit, MI - Cosmo - Wednesday, August 30th, 2006 : goo
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There's a strange phenonemon, tinged with urban legend but real nonetheless, consisting of mysterious tiles embedded in the pavement of major cities throughout the U.S. and in some other world cities: Toynbee Tiles. I am aware of two reported to be located in Detroit:
At the intersection of Randolf and Congress, see it there in the crosswalk?
Next is a close up of that tile:
The other tile was located at Woodward and Larned, see it in this next photo, again in the crosswalk:
And a close up of the Woodward/Larned tile:
Last time I checked the Woodward/Larned one is no longer visible, either paved over or torn out during some road maintenance. I don't know if the Randolf/Congress tile is still there.
For some explanation, such as is possible for this strange topic, check the following:
This article has been viewed 3458 times in the last 2 years
Peter: 30th Aug 2006 - 13:21 GMT
ive seen these in nyc before, and always wondered what the backstory was... thanks for sharing, and thanks for that wiki link!
groovehouse: 30th Aug 2006 - 13:45 GMT
Very cool! Thanks for the photos and wiki link! I had no idea these existed!
EvilGentleman: 30th Aug 2006 - 14:37 GMT
Imagine filling all the potholes around here with tiles like this. Cool.
JJ: 30th Aug 2006 - 15:50 GMT
Excellent pics!
I'm so glad to see Toynbee Tiles here on citynoise. I heard about them a couple of months ago and came here looking for pics. I hope to see more from other cities too.
Cosmo: 30th Aug 2006 - 16:25 GMT
The tiles seem to be disappearing due to cities fixing up their old roads...I'm so glad I got these images of the Detroit ones, so far as I know no one else has published images of these. (I sent these photos to www.toynbee.net/
so the site could add them to the Detroit text, but it seems that site hasn't been updated in years.)
I hope the remaining tiles are documented before they vanish. We should get on the case. Check www.toynbee.net/ and if you live in city on the list go see if your tiles are still there. And get the photos!
Peter: 30th Aug 2006 - 16:33 GMT
also check www.resurrectdead.com
and for more photos, particularly:
www.resurrectdead.com/sightings_index_philadelphia.htm
www.resurrectdead.com/sightings_index_nyc.htm
www.resurrectdead.com/sightings_index_other_cities.htm
Cosmo: 31st Aug 2006 - 16:01 GMT
Wow, Peter, excellent find! I see from their photo gallery that there might have been a third tile in Detroit that I didn't know about. Also, there is at least one "new school" tiler out there keeping the tradition alive with new tiles in Philadelphia.
chrissy: 20th Oct 2006 - 14:43 GMT
I always walk past the one near the Hancock Building in Chicago and wondered what the story was. Thanks for the info!
EvilGentleman: 7th May 2007 - 07:56 GMT
I'm surprised this article has not been more popular. One of the best, if you ask me.
Peter: yeah, i love this post too...
Edward: 14th Apr 2008 - 20:41 GMT
The tiles originally appeared in Philadelphia. The tagger is widely thought to live about 22nd and Walnut Streets. In philadelphia there are hundreds of the tags as well as newer ghost like creatures(think strawbery, vanilla, chocolate ghost from Scooby-doo). I think the sheer number as well as up-to date cycle in Philly, lends credence to this being the place where the tagger lives. The toynbee tags i Philadelphia get refreshed constantly.(reported cities:Philadelphia, detroit, new York, Lima, Buenos Aires, LA, San Francisco, Miami) Add 'em if you've seen them.
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