Based on the analysis of memorial plaques, established in Russian cities in the 19th - early 21st century, the authors reveal the main features and characteristics of this form of commemoration. The uniqueness of memorial plaques is that with their help it is possible to accurately label exactly the “place of memory” which was associated with a certain historical personality or historical event. Democracy, economy, the possibility of easier, in comparison with other signs of memory, placement in the sociocultural urban space make plaques an effective way of sounding public opinion on preserving the historical memory of controversial historical events or heroes. The authors analyze the features of these memorable signs as small-format texts, show the changes that occurred in their artistic decision and led to the fact that artistic details began to play a role equivalent to their textual component. The authors assert that memorial plaques as signs of historical memory remain an actual method of memory policy.