PHMC Announces Revitalized Historical Marker Program

Does your township have a significant historical resource that you’d like to draw attention to? The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) recently announced the return of its historical marker program, a vital tool for preserving and sharing the commonwealth’s rich heritage with millions of residents and visitors.

For nearly 80 years, PHMC’s historical markers  have commemorated significant people, places, and events that have shaped Pennsylvania’s history through a community-driven nomination process.

As part of the program’s return, PHMC made several enhancements to the marker nomination process – including a more streamlined application, an improved evaluation process by external reviewers, and an optional pre-application process to help new applicants determine the viability of their nominations in consultation with PHMC staff.

Additional details of the new historical marker program are available on the PA State Historic Preservation Office blog, and a video series on PHMC’s YouTube channel will explain the new process. Final applications for the first round of new markers are due April 1, 2025, with the first of the new markers being cast and installed in 2026.

Nominations for historical markers may be submitted by any individual or organization and are evaluated by a panel of independent experts from throughout the state and approved by the agency’s commissioners. More information on the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program, including application guidelines, is available online at www.PAHistoricalMarkers.com.