National Historic Marker Day

According to the historic marker database, there are more than 219,000 historic markers scattered across the cities and rural areas, along the larger highways and country roads of the United States – with thousands more in Canada.

Despite how important they are to local and national culture, many historical markers don’t receive the care and attention they need to preserve them so that they can be enjoyed by future generations.

And that’s what National Historic Marker Day is all about!

History of National Historic Marker Day

One of the oldest historical marker programs in the United States belongs to Virginia and was started in 1926 when a series of signs to memorialize the history of the area began appearing along roadsides.

Since then, the appearance of historical markers has become fairly commonplace, adding a three-dimensional opportunity for learning about the history of a local area.

The inaugural celebration of National Historic Marker Day took place in 2021 after it was founded through the efforts of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

For the first observance of this event, more than three dozen volunteers from several different states participated by heading out to historical markers and providing them with a bit of tender loving care.

Now celebrated annually, National Historic Marker Day encourages concerned individuals and various groups across the nations to get out into their communities, armed with the necessary tools to clean up and help preserve the integrity of those national markers.

How to Celebrate National Historic Marker Day

Looking for ways to get connected with National Historic Marker Day? Perhaps start with some of these ideas:

Host a National Historic Marker Day Event

Schools, youth groups, civic organizations and others can get involved with National Historic Marker Day by hosting a field trip or some other group activity to visit various historical markers.

This is especially useful for students in public schools or homeschooled kids to get a bit more connected with the historical events that happened in their local area. Make it a school lesson and a cleanup activity all at the same time!

Visit the Historical Marker Database

History buffs, parents, teachers and others who are simply interested can participate in National Historic Marker Day by checking out the ones in their local area. Head over to the online database to learn about the growing number of historical markers that are available to visit and learn from!

Follow Historical Marker Cleaning Instructions

While the entire community is invited to participate in National Historic Marker Day, it is important that the proper instructions are followed to preserve the integrity of these markers.

First, be sure to get permission from the city, town or other owner of the marker to clean it.

America’s largest and oldest historic marker company, Sewah, offers some of these tips in honor of this event:

• Use a mix of warm water with mild soap in a bucket to clean from top to bottom, including the pole
• Be sure to use a soft cloth or sponge so the marker isn’t scratched or harmed in any way
• For stubborn dirt, a non-metal scrub brush can be employed, or a soft toothbrush for smaller details
• Rinse with clean water or a portable sprayer