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Maryland Roadside Historic Marker Program
 Historic markers have been a familiar sight on Maryland's roads and
highways for more than half a century. Launched in 1932, the roadside historic marker program has proven an effective way to draw attention to the many events, people and places that have contributed to the richness of our state. In the program's first half-century, over 700 markers were erected on Maryland roadways.
Since 1988, the roadside historic marker program has been administered by the Maryland Historical Trust, the state agency charged with taking the lead in identifying, evaluating and protecting Maryland's historical and cultural resources. Markers erected through this program commemorate people, events and places of special significance to the state. The Trust reviews all marker proposals to ensure the accuracy of the information and the statewide significance of the resource to be commemorated. In addition, the Trust administers a limited amount of funding for the production and erection of markers.
Eligible Proposals. The Historic Marker Program commemorates resources that contribute to a better understanding of the “big picture” of Maryland history, representing people, places, and events or trends whose influence was felt broadly across the state. To ensure that resources commemorated by markers truly rate that level of significance, the Trust employs standards for evaluation comparable to those established for other programs which recognize Maryland's historical and cultural resources.
Criteria for Evaluation. The standards for evaluating proposed historic markers are adapted from the criteria for listing resources in the National Register of Historic Places and the Maryland Register of Historic Properties. In over 30 years of use, these criteria have proven highly effective in guiding decisions about historical significance. They were designed to allow consideration of the broad range of types of significance which historic resources may possess, and to recognize the accomplishments of all peoples who have made contributions to our state's history and heritage.
For the purpose of the marker program, the quality of significance in Maryland history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture is present in events, persons, and places:
that are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
that are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values; or
that have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.
Criteria Considerations (Exceptions). Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces or graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties primarily commemorative in nature, and properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for historic markers. However, such resources may quality if they fall within the following exceptions:
a religious property deriving primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or
a building or structure removed from its original location but which is significant primarily for architectural value, or which is the surviving structure most importantly associated with a historic person or event; or
a birthplace or grave of a historical figure of outstanding importance; or
a cemetery that derives its primary significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events; or
a reconstructed building when accurately executed in a suitable environment and when no other building or structure with the same association has survived; or
a property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own historical significance; or
a property achieving significance within the past 50 years if it is of exceptional importance.
Accuracy is Paramount! Roadside Historic Markers are highly visible public “documents,” and must be held to an unwavering standard of accuracy in the information they present. To carry out its responsibilities to all citizens of Maryland, the Trust must insist on the highest degree of academic rigor in documenting the facts incorporated in the text of roadside historic markers.
Location. Roadside historic markers must be located on State Highway Administration (SHA) right-of-way. The applicant is asked to suggest a general location, but the final placement is determined by SHA, taking into account safety standards, visibility, etc.
The Application Process. Marker proposals may be prepared by individuals, nonprofit organizations, businesses, or government agencies. State residency is not a requirement for application. Applications may be submitted to the Trust at any time during the year. The applicant is responsible for providing all required documentation.
Funding. If the proposal is successful, the MHT will cover the cost of producing and erecting the marker, within the limits of available funding. It is anticipated that eligible applications for markers will at times exceed available funds. In such cases, markers may be produced and erected with private funds donated to the program. All markers produced and erected under the Roadside Historic Marker Program become the property of the State.
For more information on the historic marker program, contact Nancy Kurtz at 410-514-7648.
Last updated: September 15, 2005
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