Leo Murray has spent decades collecting thousands of license plates and nailing them to trees outside his home in French Cove, Cape Breton [1].

The installation has transformed a private residence into a regional attraction, drawing attention to the unique folk art and the scale of the collection in Nova Scotia.

Murray has spent years gathering the plates [1]. The collection now consists of thousands of license plates [1], [2], which are displayed across the landscape of his property. The plates are affixed directly to the trees, creating a metallic forest that reflects the diverse origins of the vehicles they once adorned.

Local observers and visitors have noted the unusual nature of the display. While the specific motivation for the collection was not detailed, the sheer volume of the plates indicates a long-term commitment to the project [1].

CBC Nova Scotia reporter Anna Rak said the collection has become a point of interest for those traveling through the Cape Breton region [1]. The display serves as a visual archive of automotive history, though it remains a personal project by Murray rather than a formal museum.

The installation continues to grow as Murray adds to the existing thousands of plates [1], [2]. The site remains a notable landmark in French Cove, blending the natural environment of Cape Breton with a massive industrial collection.

“Leo Murray has spent decades collecting thousands of license plates”

This installation represents a form of vernacular architecture and folk art, where a private obsession evolves into a public landmark. By utilizing the natural landscape as a gallery, Murray has created a site-specific attraction that draws tourism to French Cove, demonstrating how individual curation can influence local geography and regional identity.