diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/notifications.scss.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/notifications.scss.erb
index 2f750f90..4c97547b 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/notifications.scss.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/notifications.scss.erb
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+$notifications-border-color: #DDDDDD;
+$notifications-hover-color: #F6F6F6;
 $unread_notifications_dot_size: 8px;
+
 .unread-notifications-dot {
   width: $unread_notifications_dot_size;
   height: $unread_notifications_dot_size;
@@ -13,13 +16,72 @@ $unread_notifications_dot_size: 8px;
   .notificationsIcon {
     position: relative;
   }
+
+  .notificationsBox {
+    position: absolute;
+    background: #FFFFFF;
+    border-radius: 2px;
+    width: 350px;
+    right: 0;
+    top: 50px;
+    box-shadow: 0 3px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.16);
+    border: 1px solid $notifications-border-color;
+
+    .notificationsBoxTriangle {
+      min-width: 0 !important;
+      display: block;
+      position: absolute;
+      right: 48px;
+      width: 20px !important;
+      height: 20px !important;
+      margin-left: -10px;
+      top: -11px;
+      border-left: 1px solid $notifications-border-color;
+      border-top: 1px solid $notifications-border-color;
+      border-bottom: 0 !important;
+      border-right: 0 !important;
+      background-color: #fff;
+      transform: rotate(45deg);
+      -webkit-transform: rotate(45deg);
+      -ms-transform: rotate(45deg);
+    }
+
+    ul.notifications {
+      max-height: 500px;
+      overflow-y: auto;
+
+      .notification {
+        font-size: 13px;
+
+        .notification-body {
+          border-bottom: 1px solid $notifications-border-color;
+        }
+      }
+
+      .notificationsEmpty {
+        font-family: din-regular, helvetica, sans-serif;
+        margin: 50px 10px;
+        text-align: center;
+      }
+    }
+
+    .notificationsBoxSeeAll {
+      display: block;
+      width: 100%;
+      text-align: center;
+      padding: 6px 0;
+      font-family: din-regular, helvetica, sans-serif;
+      border-top: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
+
+      &:hover {
+        color: #333;
+        background: $notifications-hover-color;
+      }
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 .controller-notifications {
-  ul.notifications {
-    list-style: none;
-  }
-
   .notificationPage,
   .notificationsPage {
     font-family: 'din-regular', Sans-Serif;
@@ -47,89 +109,9 @@ $unread_notifications_dot_size: 8px;
     .emptyInbox {
       padding-top: 15px;
     }
-
-    .notification {
-      padding: 10px;
-      position: relative;
-
-      &:hover {
-        background: #F6F6F6;
-
-        .notification-read-unread {
-          display:block;
-        }
-
-        .notification-date {
-          display: none;
-        }
-      }
-
-      & > a {
-        float: left;
-        width: 85%;  
-        box-sizing: border-box;
-        padding-right: 10px;
-      }
-
-      .notification-actor { 
-        float: left;
-
-        img {
-          width: 32px;
-          height: 32px;
-          border-radius: 16px;
-        }
-      }
-
-      .notification-body {
-        margin-left: 50px;
-        line-height: 20px;
-
-        .in-bold {
-          font-family: 'din-medium', Sans-Serif;
-        }
-
-        .action {
-          background: #4fb5c0;
-          color: #FFF;
-          padding: 2px 6px;
-          border-radius: 3px;
-          display: inline-block;
-          margin: 5px 0;
-        }
-      } 
-
-      .notification-date {
-        position: absolute;
-        top: 50%;
-        right: 10px;
-        color: #607d8b;
-        font-size: 13px;
-        line-height: 13px;
-        margin-top: -6px;
-      }
-
-      .notification-read-unread {
-        display: none;
-        float: left;
-        width: 15%;
-
-        a {
-          position: absolute;
-          top: 50%;
-          margin-top: -10px;
-          text-align: center;
-        }
-      }
-
-      &.unread {
-        background: #EEE;
-      }
-    }
-
   }
 
-    
+
 
   .notificationPage {
     .thirty-two-avatar {
@@ -139,14 +121,14 @@ $unread_notifications_dot_size: 8px;
       border-radius: 16px;
       vertical-align: middle;
     }
-    
+
     .button {
       line-height: 32px;
-      
+
       img {
         margin-top: 8px;
       }
-      
+
       &.decline {
         background: #DB5D5D;
         &:hover {
@@ -154,7 +136,7 @@ $unread_notifications_dot_size: 8px;
         }
       }
     }
-  
+
     .notification-body {
       p, div {
         margin: 1em auto;
@@ -163,3 +145,93 @@ $unread_notifications_dot_size: 8px;
     }
   }
 }
+
+ul.notifications {
+  list-style: none;
+
+  li:nth-last-child(2) {
+    .notification-body {
+      border-bottom: none !important;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+.notification {
+  padding: 10px 10px 0 10px;
+  position: relative;
+  font-family: 'din-regular', Sans-Serif;
+
+  &.unread {
+    background: #EEE;
+  }
+
+  &:hover {
+    background: $notifications-hover-color;
+
+    .notification-read-unread {
+      display:block;
+    }
+
+    .notification-date {
+      display: none;
+    }
+  }
+
+  & > a {
+    float: left;
+    width: 85%;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    padding-right: 10px;
+  }
+
+  .notification-actor {
+    float: left;
+
+    img {
+      width: 32px;
+      height: 32px;
+      border-radius: 16px;
+    }
+  }
+
+  .notification-body {
+    margin-left: 50px;
+    line-height: 20px;
+    padding-bottom: 10px;
+
+    .in-bold {
+      font-family: 'din-medium', Sans-Serif;
+    }
+
+    .action {
+      background: #4fb5c0;
+      color: #FFF;
+      padding: 2px 6px;
+      border-radius: 3px;
+      display: inline-block;
+      margin: 5px 0;
+    }
+  }
+
+  .notification-date {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 50%;
+    right: 10px;
+    color: #607d8b;
+    margin-top: -6px;
+  }
+
+  .notification-read-unread {
+    display: none;
+    float: left;
+    width: 15%;
+
+    a, div {
+      position: absolute;
+      top: 50%;
+      margin-top: -10px;
+      text-align: center;
+      cursor: pointer;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/controllers/notifications_controller.rb b/app/controllers/notifications_controller.rb
index 210c0b43..22a34452 100644
--- a/app/controllers/notifications_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/notifications_controller.rb
@@ -6,13 +6,17 @@ class NotificationsController < ApplicationController
 
   def index
     @notifications = current_user.mailbox.notifications.page(params[:page]).per(25)
-
     respond_to do |format|
       format.html
       format.json do
-        render json: @notifications.map do |notification|
+        notifications = @notifications.map do |notification|
           receipt = @receipts.find_by(notification_id: notification.id)
-          notification.as_json.merge(is_read: receipt.is_read)
+          NotificationDecorator.decorate(notification, receipt)
+        end
+        if !notifications.empty?
+          render json: notifications
+        else
+          render json: [].to_json
         end
       end
     end
@@ -34,9 +38,7 @@ class NotificationsController < ApplicationController
         end
       end
       format.json do
-        render json: @notification.as_json.merge(
-          is_read: @receipt.is_read
-        )
+        render json: NotificationDecorator.decorate(@notification, @receipt)
       end
     end
   end
@@ -46,9 +48,7 @@ class NotificationsController < ApplicationController
     respond_to do |format|
       format.js
       format.json do
-        render json: @notification.as_json.merge(
-          is_read: @receipt.is_read
-        )
+        render json: NotificationDecorator.decorate(@notification, @receipt)
       end
     end
   end
@@ -58,9 +58,7 @@ class NotificationsController < ApplicationController
     respond_to do |format|
       format.js
       format.json do
-        render json: @notification.as_json.merge(
-          is_read: @receipt.is_read
-        )
+        render json: NotificationDecorator.decorate(@notification, @receipt)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/app/decorators/notification_decorator.rb b/app/decorators/notification_decorator.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cc503821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/decorators/notification_decorator.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+class NotificationDecorator
+  class << self
+    def decorate(notification, receipt)
+      result = {
+        id: notification.id,
+        type: notification.notification_code,
+        subject: notification.subject,
+        is_read: receipt.is_read,
+        created_at: notification.created_at,
+        actor: notification.sender,
+        data: {
+          object: notification.notified_object
+        }
+      }
+
+      case notification.notification_code
+      when MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED, MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST, MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT
+        map = notification.notified_object&.map
+        result[:data][:map] = {
+          id: map&.id,
+          name: map&.name
+        }
+      when TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP
+        topic = notification.notified_object&.eventable
+        map = notification.notified_object&.map
+        result[:data][:topic] = {
+          id: topic&.id,
+          name: topic&.name
+        }
+        result[:data][:map] = {
+          id: map&.id,
+          name: map&.name
+        }
+      when TOPIC_CONNECTED_1, TOPIC_CONNECTED_2
+        topic1 = notification.notified_object&.topic1
+        topic2 = notification.notified_object&.topic2
+        result[:data][:topic1] = {
+          id: topic1&.id,
+          name: topic1&.name
+        }
+        result[:data][:topic2] = {
+          id: topic2&.id,
+          name: topic2&.name
+        }
+      end
+      result
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/views/notifications/index.html.erb b/app/views/notifications/index.html.erb
index ec9987f6..3efbcb45 100644
--- a/app/views/notifications/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/notifications/index.html.erb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     </header>
     <ul class="notifications">
       <% blacklist = [MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST, MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED, MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT] %>
-      <% notifications = @notifications.to_a.delete_if{|n| blacklist.include?(n.notification_code) && (n.notified_object.nil? || n.notified_object.map.nil?) }%> 
+      <% notifications = @notifications.to_a.delete_if{|n| blacklist.include?(n.notification_code) && (n.notified_object.nil? || n.notified_object.map.nil?) }%>
       <% notifications.each do |notification| %>
         <% receipt = @receipts.find_by(notification_id: notification.id) %>
         <li class="notification <%= receipt.is_read? ? 'read' : 'unread' %>" id="notification-<%= notification.id %>">
diff --git a/app/views/notifications/mark_read.js.erb b/app/views/notifications/mark_read.js.erb
index cbf2cf13..17e418b8 100644
--- a/app/views/notifications/mark_read.js.erb
+++ b/app/views/notifications/mark_read.js.erb
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ $('#notification-<%= @notification.id %> .notification-read-unread > a')
 $('#notification-<%= @notification.id %>')
   .removeClass('unread')
   .addClass('read')
-Metamaps.GlobalUI.NotificationIcon.render(Metamaps.GlobalUI.NotificationIcon.unreadNotificationsCount - 1)
\ No newline at end of file
+Metamaps.GlobalUI.Notifications.decrementUnread(Metamaps.GlobalUI.ReactApp.render)
diff --git a/app/views/notifications/mark_unread.js.erb b/app/views/notifications/mark_unread.js.erb
index 3fffab24..873e7af8 100644
--- a/app/views/notifications/mark_unread.js.erb
+++ b/app/views/notifications/mark_unread.js.erb
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ $('#notification-<%= @notification.id %> .notification-read-unread > a')
 $('#notification-<%= @notification.id %>')
   .removeClass('read')
   .addClass('unread')
-Metamaps.GlobalUI.NotificationIcon.render(Metamaps.GlobalUI.NotificationIcon.unreadNotificationsCount + 1)
\ No newline at end of file
+Metamaps.GlobalUI.Notifications.incrementUnread(Metamaps.GlobalUI.ReactApp.render)
diff --git a/config/application.rb b/config/application.rb
index ff5a621c..8731e76a 100644
--- a/config/application.rb
+++ b/config/application.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module Metamaps
                                       end
 
     # Custom directories with classes and modules you want to be autoloadable.
-    config.autoload_paths << Rails.root.join('app', 'services')
+    config.autoload_paths << Rails.root.join('app', 'decorators', 'services')
 
     # Configure the default encoding used in templates for Ruby 1.9.
     config.encoding = 'utf-8'
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..29908695
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/* global $ */
+import GlobalUI from './index'
+
+const Notifications = {
+  notifications: null,
+  unreadNotificationsCount: 0,
+  init: serverData => {
+    Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount = serverData.unreadNotificationsCount
+  },
+  fetch: render => {
+    $.ajax({
+      url: '/notifications.json',
+      success: function(data) {
+        Notifications.notifications = data
+        render()
+      }
+    })
+  },
+  incrementUnread: (render) => {
+    Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount++
+    render()
+  },
+  decrementUnread: (render) => {
+    Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount--
+    render()
+  },
+  markAsRead: (render, id) => {
+    const n = Notifications.notifications.find(n => n.id === id)
+    $.ajax({
+      url: `/notifications/${id}/mark_read.json`,
+      method: 'PUT',
+      success: function(r) {
+        if (n) {
+          Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount--
+          n.is_read = true
+          render()
+        }
+      },
+      error: function() {
+        GlobalUI.notifyUser('There was an error marking that notification as read')
+      }
+    })
+  },
+  markAsUnread: (render, id) => {
+    const n = Notifications.notifications.find(n => n.id === id)
+    $.ajax({
+      url: `/notifications/${id}/mark_unread.json`,
+      method: 'PUT',
+      success: function() {
+        if (n) {
+          Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount++
+          n.is_read = false
+          render()
+        }
+      },
+      error: function() {
+        GlobalUI.notifyUser('There was an error marking that notification as read')
+      }
+    })
+  }
+}
+
+export default Notifications
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js
index 5cfbf255..caa483d2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import apply from 'async/apply'
 
 import { notifyUser } from './index.js'
 import ImportDialog from './ImportDialog'
+import Notifications from './Notifications'
 import Active from '../Active'
 import DataModel from '../DataModel'
 import { ExploreMaps, ChatView, TopicCard, ContextMenu } from '../Views'
@@ -30,7 +31,6 @@ const ReactApp = {
   serverData: {},
   mapId: null,
   topicId: null,
-  unreadNotificationsCount: 0,
   mapsWidth: 0,
   toast: '',
   mobile: false,
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ const ReactApp = {
   init: function(serverData, openLightbox) {
     const self = ReactApp
     self.serverData = serverData
-    self.unreadNotificationsCount = serverData.unreadNotificationsCount
     self.mobileTitle = serverData.mobileTitle
     self.openLightbox = openLightbox
     self.metacodeSets = serverData.metacodeSets
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ const ReactApp = {
   getProps: function() {
     const self = ReactApp
     return merge({
-      unreadNotificationsCount: self.unreadNotificationsCount,
+      unreadNotificationsCount: Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount,
       currentUser: Active.Mapper,
       toast: self.toast,
       mobile: self.mobile,
@@ -107,7 +106,11 @@ const ReactApp = {
       mobileTitleWidth: self.mobileTitleWidth,
       mobileTitleClick: (e) => Active.Map && InfoBox.toggleBox(e),
       openInviteLightbox: () => self.openLightbox('invite'),
-      serverData: self.serverData
+      serverData: self.serverData,
+      notifications: Notifications.notifications,
+      fetchNotifications: apply(Notifications.fetch, ReactApp.render),
+      markAsRead: apply(Notifications.markAsRead, ReactApp.render),
+      markAsUnread: apply(Notifications.markAsUnread, ReactApp.render)
     },
     self.getMapProps(),
     self.getTopicProps(),
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js
index b2dd6654..7a7d2ae5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/index.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import clipboard from 'clipboard-js'
 
 import Create from '../Create'
 
+import Notifications from './Notifications'
 import ReactApp from './ReactApp'
 import Search from './Search'
 import CreateMap from './CreateMap'
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ const GlobalUI = {
   init: function(serverData) {
     const self = GlobalUI
 
+    self.Notifications.init(serverData)
     self.ReactApp.init(serverData, self.openLightbox)
     self.CreateMap.init(serverData)
     self.ImportDialog.init(serverData, self.openLightbox, self.closeLightbox)
@@ -151,5 +153,5 @@ const GlobalUI = {
   }
 }
 
-export { ReactApp, Search, CreateMap, ImportDialog }
+export { Notifications, ReactApp, Search, CreateMap, ImportDialog }
 export default GlobalUI
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js
index 12fcbe60..747cb643 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/index.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import DataModel from './DataModel'
 import Debug from './Debug'
 import Filter from './Filter'
 import GlobalUI, {
-  ReactApp, Search, CreateMap, ImportDialog
+  Notifications, ReactApp, Search, CreateMap, ImportDialog
 } from './GlobalUI'
 import Import from './Import'
 import JIT from './JIT'
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ Metamaps.DataModel = DataModel
 Metamaps.Debug = Debug
 Metamaps.Filter = Filter
 Metamaps.GlobalUI = GlobalUI
+Metamaps.GlobalUI.Notifications = Notifications
 Metamaps.GlobalUI.ReactApp = ReactApp
 Metamaps.GlobalUI.Search = Search
 Metamaps.GlobalUI.CreateMap = CreateMap
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationBox.js b/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationBox.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f5f0b801
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationBox.js
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import React, { Component } from 'react'
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+
+import onClickOutsideAddon from 'react-onclickoutside'
+import Notification from '../Notification'
+import Loading from '../Loading'
+
+class NotificationBox extends Component {
+  static propTypes = {
+    notifications: PropTypes.array,
+    fetchNotifications: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    toggleNotificationsBox: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    markAsRead: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    markAsUnread: PropTypes.func.isRequired
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount = () => {
+    const { notifications, fetchNotifications } = this.props
+    if (!notifications) {
+      fetchNotifications()
+    }
+  }
+
+  handleClickOutside = () => {
+    this.props.toggleNotificationsBox()
+  }
+
+  hasSomeNotifications = () => {
+    const { notifications } = this.props
+    return notifications && notifications.length > 0
+  }
+
+  showLoading = () => {
+    return <li><Loading margin='30px auto' /></li>
+  }
+
+  showEmpty = () => {
+    return <li className='notificationsEmpty'>
+      You have no notifications. <br />
+      More time for dancing.
+    </li>
+  }
+
+  showNotifications = () => {
+    const { notifications, markAsRead, markAsUnread } = this.props
+    if (!this.hasSomeNotifications()) {
+      return this.showEmpty()
+    }
+    return notifications.slice(0, 10).map(
+      n => <Notification notification={n}
+        markAsRead={markAsRead}
+        markAsUnread={markAsUnread}
+        key={`notification-${n.id}`} />
+    ).concat([
+      <li key='notification-see-all'>
+        <a href='/notifications' className='notificationsBoxSeeAll'>
+          See all
+        </a>
+      </li>
+    ])
+  }
+
+  render = () => {
+    const { notifications } = this.props
+    return <div className='notificationsBox'>
+      <div className='notificationsBoxTriangle' />
+      <ul className='notifications'>
+        {notifications ? this.showNotifications() : this.showLoading()}
+      </ul>
+    </div>
+  }
+}
+
+export default onClickOutsideAddon(NotificationBox)
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationIcon.js b/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationIcon.js
index 36b86b72..b265cec0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationIcon.js
+++ b/frontend/src/components/App/NotificationIcon.js
@@ -4,18 +4,14 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
 class NotificationIcon extends Component {
 
   static propTypes = {
-    unreadNotificationsCount: PropTypes.number
-  }
-
-  constructor(props) {
-    super(props)
-
-    this.state = {
-    }
+    unreadNotificationsCount: PropTypes.number,
+    toggleNotificationsBox: PropTypes.func
   }
 
   render = () => {
+    const { toggleNotificationsBox } = this.props
     let linkClasses = 'notificationsIcon upperRightEl upperRightIcon '
+    linkClasses += 'ignore-react-onclickoutside '
 
     if (this.props.unreadNotificationsCount > 0) {
       linkClasses += 'unread'
@@ -24,14 +20,14 @@ class NotificationIcon extends Component {
     }
 
     return (
-      <a className={linkClasses} href="/notifications" target="_blank">
+      <div className={linkClasses} onClick={toggleNotificationsBox}>
         <div className="tooltipsUnder">
           Notifications
         </div>
         {this.props.unreadNotificationsCount === 0 ? null : (
           <div className="unread-notifications-dot"></div>
         )}
-      </a>
+      </div>
 
     )
   }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/App/UpperRightUI.js b/frontend/src/components/App/UpperRightUI.js
index d1e53652..08276c82 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/App/UpperRightUI.js
+++ b/frontend/src/components/App/UpperRightUI.js
@@ -4,31 +4,54 @@ import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
 import AccountMenu from './AccountMenu'
 import LoginForm from './LoginForm'
 import NotificationIcon from './NotificationIcon'
+import NotificationBox from './NotificationBox'
 
 class UpperRightUI extends Component {
   static propTypes = {
     currentUser: PropTypes.object,
     signInPage: PropTypes.bool,
     unreadNotificationsCount: PropTypes.number,
+    fetchNotifications: PropTypes.func,
+    notifications: PropTypes.array,
+    markAsRead: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+    markAsUnread: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     openInviteLightbox: PropTypes.func
   }
 
   constructor(props) {
     super(props)
-    this.state = {accountBoxOpen: false}
+    this.state = {
+      accountBoxOpen: false,
+      notificationsBoxOpen: false
+    }
   }
 
   reset = () => {
-    this.setState({accountBoxOpen: false})
+    this.setState({
+      accountBoxOpen: false,
+      notificationsBoxOpen: false
+    })
   }
 
   toggleAccountBox = () => {
-    this.setState({accountBoxOpen: !this.state.accountBoxOpen})
+    this.setState({
+      accountBoxOpen: !this.state.accountBoxOpen,
+      notificationsBoxOpen: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  toggleNotificationsBox = () => {
+    this.setState({
+      notificationsBoxOpen: !this.state.notificationsBoxOpen,
+      accountBoxOpen: false
+    })
   }
 
   render () {
-    const { currentUser, signInPage, unreadNotificationsCount, openInviteLightbox } = this.props
-    const { accountBoxOpen } = this.state
+    const { currentUser, signInPage, unreadNotificationsCount,
+            notifications, fetchNotifications, openInviteLightbox,
+            markAsRead, markAsUnread } = this.props
+    const { accountBoxOpen, notificationsBoxOpen } = this.state
     return <div className="upperRightUI">
       {currentUser && <a href="/maps/new" target="_blank" className="addMap upperRightEl upperRightIcon">
         <div className="tooltipsUnder">
@@ -36,7 +59,15 @@ class UpperRightUI extends Component {
         </div>
       </a>}
       {currentUser && <span id="notification_icon">
-        <NotificationIcon unreadNotificationsCount={unreadNotificationsCount} />
+        <NotificationIcon
+          unreadNotificationsCount={unreadNotificationsCount}
+          toggleNotificationsBox={this.toggleNotificationsBox}/>
+        {notificationsBoxOpen && <NotificationBox
+          notifications={notifications}
+          fetchNotifications={fetchNotifications}
+          markAsRead={markAsRead}
+          markAsUnread={markAsUnread}
+          toggleNotificationsBox={this.toggleNotificationsBox}/>}
       </span>}
       {!signInPage && <div className="sidebarAccount upperRightEl">
         <div className="sidebarAccountIcon ignore-react-onclickoutside" onClick={this.toggleAccountBox}>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/App/index.js b/frontend/src/components/App/index.js
index ed24e9d1..9d4d3ee0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/App/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/components/App/index.js
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ class App extends Component {
     children: PropTypes.object,
     toast: PropTypes.string,
     unreadNotificationsCount: PropTypes.number,
+    notifications: PropTypes.array,
+    fetchNotifications: PropTypes.func,
+    markAsRead: PropTypes.func,
+    markAsUnread: PropTypes.func,
     location: PropTypes.object,
     mobile: PropTypes.bool,
     mobileTitle: PropTypes.string,
@@ -38,7 +42,8 @@ class App extends Component {
     const { children, toast, unreadNotificationsCount, openInviteLightbox,
             mobile, mobileTitle, mobileTitleWidth, mobileTitleClick, location,
             map, userRequested, requestAnswered, requestApproved, serverData,
-            onRequestAccess } = this.props
+            onRequestAccess, notifications, fetchNotifications,
+            markAsRead, markAsUnread } = this.props
     const { pathname } = location || {}
     // this fixes a bug that happens otherwise when you logout
     const currentUser = this.props.currentUser && this.props.currentUser.id ? this.props.currentUser : null
@@ -58,6 +63,10 @@ class App extends Component {
                                      onRequestClick={onRequestAccess} />}
       {!mobile && <UpperRightUI currentUser={currentUser}
                                 unreadNotificationsCount={unreadNotificationsCount}
+                                notifications={notifications}
+                                fetchNotifications={fetchNotifications}
+                                markAsRead={markAsRead}
+                                markAsUnread={markAsUnread}
                                 openInviteLightbox={openInviteLightbox}
                                 signInPage={pathname === '/login'} />}
       <Toast message={toast} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Loading.js b/frontend/src/components/Loading.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..66382978
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Loading.js
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+
+// based on https://www.npmjs.com/package/react-loading-animation
+
+const loadingStyle = {
+  position: 'relative',
+  margin: '0 auto',
+  width: '30px',
+  height: '30px'
+}
+
+const svgStyle = {
+  animation: 'rotate 2s linear infinite',
+  height: '100%',
+  transformOrigin: 'center center',
+  width: '100%',
+  position: 'absolute',
+  top: 0,
+  bottom: 0,
+  left: 0,
+  right: 0,
+  margin: 'auto'
+}
+
+const circleStyle = {
+  strokeDasharray: '1,200',
+  strokeDashoffset: '0',
+  animation: 'dash 1.5s ease-in-out infinite, color 6s ease-in-out infinite',
+  strokeLinecap: 'round'
+}
+
+const animation = `@keyframes rotate {
+    100% {
+        transform: rotate(360deg);
+    }
+}
+@keyframes dash {
+    0% {
+        stroke-dasharray: 1,200;
+        stroke-dashoffset: 0;
+    }
+    50% {
+        stroke-dasharray: 89,200;
+        stroke-dashoffset: -35px;
+    }
+    100% {
+        stroke-dasharray: 89,200;
+        stroke-dashoffset: -124px;
+    }
+}
+@keyframes color {
+    100%, 0% {
+        stroke: #a354cd;
+    }
+    50% {
+        stroke: #4fb5c0;
+    }
+}`
+
+class Loading extends React.Component {
+  static propTypes = {
+    style: PropTypes.object,
+    width: PropTypes.string,
+    height: PropTypes.string,
+    margin: PropTypes.string
+  }
+
+  static defaultProps = {
+    style: {},
+    width: '30px',
+    height: '30px',
+    margin: '0 auto'
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    let { width, height, margin, style } = this.props
+
+    loadingStyle.width = width
+    loadingStyle.height = height
+    loadingStyle.margin = margin
+
+    return <div style={Object.assign({}, loadingStyle, style)}>
+        <style>{animation}</style>
+        <svg style={svgStyle} viewBox="25 25 50 50">
+            <circle style={circleStyle} cx="50" cy="50" r="20" fill="none" strokeWidth="4" strokeMiterlimit="10"/>
+        </svg>
+      </div>
+  }
+}
+
+export default Loading
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Notification.js b/frontend/src/components/Notification.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22237aaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Notification.js
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+import React, { Component } from 'react'
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
+import outdent from 'outdent'
+
+class Notification extends Component {
+  static propTypes = {
+    markAsRead: PropTypes.func,
+    markAsUnread: PropTypes.func,
+    notification: PropTypes.shape({
+      id: PropTypes.number.isRequired,
+      type: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+      subject: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+      is_read: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
+      created_at: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
+      actor: PropTypes.shape({
+        id: PropTypes.number,
+        name: PropTypes.string,
+        image: PropTypes.string,
+        admin: PropTypes.boolean
+      }),
+      object: PropTypes.object,
+      map: PropTypes.object,
+      topic: PropTypes.object,
+      topic1: PropTypes.object,
+      topic2: PropTypes.object
+    })
+  }
+
+  notificationTextHtml = () => {
+    const { notification } = this.props
+    let map, topic, topic1, topic2
+    let result = `<div class='in-bold'>${notification.actor.name}</div>`
+
+    switch (notification.type) {
+      case 'ACCESS_APPROVED':
+        map = notification.data.map
+        result += outdent`granted your request to edit map
+                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case 'ACCESS_REQUEST':
+        map = notification.data.map
+        result += outdent`wants permission to map with you on
+                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        if (!notification.data.object.answered) {
+          result += '<br /><div class="action">Offer a response</div>'
+        }
+        break
+      case 'INVITE_TO_EDIT':
+        map = notification.data.map
+        result += outdent`gave you edit access to map
+                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case 'TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP':
+        map = notification.data.map
+        topic = notification.data.topic
+        result += outdent`added topic <span class='in-bold'>${topic.name}</span>
+                 to map <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_1':
+        topic1 = notification.data.topic1
+        topic2 = notification.data.topic2
+        result += outdent`connected <span class='in-bold'>${topic1.name}</span>
+                 to <span class='in-bold'>${topic2.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_2':
+        topic1 = notification.data.topic1
+        topic2 = notification.data.topic2
+        result += outdent`connected <span class='in-bold'>${topic2.name}</span>
+                 to <span class='in-bold'>${topic1.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case 'MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS':
+        result += notification.subject
+    }
+    return {__html: result}
+  }
+
+  getDate = () => {
+    const { notification: {created_at} } = this.props
+    const months = ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun',
+      'Jul', 'Aug', 'Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec']
+    const created = new Date(created_at)
+    return `${months[created.getMonth()]} ${created.getDate()}`
+  }
+
+  markAsRead = () => {
+    const { notification, markAsRead } = this.props
+    markAsRead(notification.id)
+  }
+
+  markAsUnread = () => {
+    const { notification, markAsUnread } = this.props
+    markAsUnread(notification.id)
+  }
+
+  render = () => {
+    const { notification } = this.props
+    const classes = `notification ${notification.is_read ? 'read' : 'unread'}`
+
+    if (!notification.data.object) {
+      return null
+    }
+
+    return <li className={classes}>
+      <a href={`/notifications/${notification.id}`}>
+        <div className='notification-actor'>
+          <img src={notification.actor.image} />
+        </div>
+        <div className='notification-body'
+             dangerouslySetInnerHTML={this.notificationTextHtml()} />
+      </a>
+      <div className='notification-read-unread'>
+        {!notification.is_read && <div onClick={this.markAsRead}>
+          mark read
+        </div>}
+        {notification.is_read && <div onClick={this.markAsUnread}>
+          mark unread
+        </div>}
+      </div>
+      <div className='notification-date'>
+        {this.getDate()}
+      </div>
+      <div className='clearfloat'></div>
+    </li>
+  }
+}
+
+export default Notification