Overview
The Historical Marker Program captures the stories of people, places, events, and innovations that have affected the lives of Pennsylvanians over the centuries. As a public-driven program, it empowers communities to identify and elevate local history that holds statewide or national signifance through historical markers.
How to make a nomination
-
1
Review the criteria and guidelines for historical markers.
Before starting a nomination, read through the program guidelines and marker criteria closely. The proposed subject must meet these criteria and be submitted according to our instructions.
-
2
Complete and submit the required pre-application form by April 1.
The pre-application is the first step to determine whether a marker subject will meet the criteria for a PHMC historical marker and be considered an eligible candidate for the program. Staff will provide technical assistance and feedback on research for your final nomination.
Complete the pre-application form and email it to ra-phmarkers@pa.gov.
-
3
Complete the significance and documentation worksheet.
Based on feedback to your pre-application, complete the significance and documentation worksheet. Follow the instructions in the guidelines. You will need to include digitized copies or relevant excerpts of your sources and a bibliography.
-
4
Submit your final application by June 1.
Applications are accepted in PA-SHARE. Learn more about signing in and subscribing to PA-SHARE.
To make your submission, you’ll need to gather all required elements into a single PDF or as few files as possible. This includes the significance & documentation worksheet, bibliography, and copies of sources. For more information, see our full instructions for submitting a nomination in PA-SHARE.
The following criteria for approving state historical markers was adopted by Resolution of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) in September 2020.
A. The nomination is clear and organized and includes thorough documentation (with selected photocopies and bibliographies from reliable primary and secondary sources) and verification of the facts claimed.
B. The person, place, event, organization, or innovation to be marked had a significant impact on its times, and has statewide and/or national, rather than local or regional, historical significance. The significance of the subject, particularly for continuing events and organizations, must be historically established rather than of contemporary interest. PHMC recognizes that continuing scholarship may help validate the subject's impact on its times or its significance from a more recent historical perspective.
C. The subject to be marked has a substantial connection to Pennsylvania.
D. An Historical Marker cannot be approved for a living person. With the exception of Pennsylvania governors and U.S. presidents, subjects must have been deceased for a minimum of five (5) years. The significance of an individual's accomplishments must have had a measurable impact on history and sufficient time has elapsed to evaluate that impact based on credible documentation.
E. Nominations for geographical, topographical, or natural features may be referred to an appropriate federal, state, or local agency.
F. People, places, events, and innovations already marked with existing monuments or markers may receive less favorable consideration for an Historical Marker.
G. Nominated subjects reviewed and disapproved by the Commission three times in succession are not eligible for review panel consideration for a period of three years.
H. Governors of Pennsylvania are approved as the subject of an Historical Marker upon nomination (subject to the criterion in subsection D herein).
I. Historic sites or properties owned by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission are approved as the subject of an Historical Marker upon nomination.
J. Places listed on the National Register of Historic Places and/or recognized as National Historic Landmarks or United Nations World Heritage Sites may be considered for an Historical Marker. These places will not be summarily approved by PHMC for designation because the approval criteria for those designations are different. Nominations for these places are subject to all these Criteria.
K. Places of worship and cemeteries/burial places generally will not be approved unless the nomination demonstrates that the subject meets criteria in subsections B and J.
