If you’re considering applying for a Pennsylvania Historical Marker, the following resources will help you navigate the nomination process and plan for a marker dedication. This page also contains information on similar marker programs.
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Nomination resources
General guidance
- Guidelines for Pennsylvania historical marker nominations (PDF) – Use these guidelines when you prepare your nomination.
- Submit and manage a marker nomination in PA-SHARE (PDF) – Follow these step-by-step instructions for using PA-SHARE.
- Helpful resources for marker nominations (PDF) – Explore this curated list of websites to find primary and secondary sources for researching your nomination subject.
- Marker nomination FAQ (PDF) – Get answers to frequently asked questions about historical marker nominations.
- Marker nomination video tutorials – View a playlist of short videos that cover tips for a successful nomination, how to use PA-SHARE, the evaluation process, and more.
Forms and rubric
- Pre-application worksheet (DOCX) – Submit this fillable worksheet to the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office.
- Significance and documentation form (DOCX) – Use this fillable worksheet to collect information required for a historical marker nomination.
- Scoring rubric for nominations (PDF) – View the rubric used by the Marker Review Panel and Staff Marker Committee when they evaluate marker nominations.
Dedication resources
- Planning a historical marker dedication (PDF) – Get an overview of the steps involved in planning a historical marker dedication.
- Guidelines for Pennsylvania historical marker dedications (PDF) – Use this guide to plan and execute a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) historical marker dedication.
- Marker dedication FAQ (PDF) – Get answers to frequently asked questions about historical marker dedications.
External sites and programs
ExplorePAHistory.com
ExplorePAHistory.com is an educational website that uses PHMC's historical markers as an entry point to bring history to life for visitors, students, teachers, and history buffs.
Local historical markers
If you’d like to create a local historical marker, contact your community’s historical society or local government to see if there’s already a program in place.
You may be also interested in the Pomeroy Foundation marker grants and this list of foundries (PDF) that specialize in historical markers, plaques, and interpretive signs.
Keystone Town Markers
The Department of Highways (PennDOT’s predecessor) originally erected Keystone Town Markers in the 1920s and 1930s.
PHMC doesn’t administer Keystone Town Markers. Instead, responsibility has fallen to municipalities and interested individuals to maintain, repair, replace, or remove these markers.
To learn more about Keystone Markers and the Keystone Marker Trust, visit the Keystone Marker Trust website.
