Photo Challenge Categories Announced
Volunteers of all ages are invited to take part in National Historic Marker Weekend 2026, a free community service event happening Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26.
This nationwide initiative, sponsored by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, encourages people to care for historical markers in their communities while learning about and sharing local history. With more than 225,000 markers across the country, there are countless ways to get involved. Whether you spend 15 minutes or an entire afternoon, every effort contributes to preserving and promoting local history. Whether cleaning a marker downtown, at a local park, or along a roadside, participants help bring these stories to life for neighbors and visitors alike.
Volunteer registration is open online at https://www.wgpfoundation.org/national-historic-marker-day/.
Registered volunteers receive recognition on the Foundation’s website and are encouraged to share project photos using #NationalHistoricMarkerWeekend and #PomeroyFoundation. Select submissions may be featured on the Foundation’s website and social media.
All registered participants are also eligible to be named to the William G. Pomeroy Historical Marker Honor Roll and entered into a special giveaway.
To celebrate volunteer efforts, participants are invited to submit photos in this year’s categories: Best Before & After, Team Spirit, Largest Volunteer Group, Student Involvement, Creative Moment, Social Media Engagement, and Community Impact.
Sharing your experience not only highlights your work but also inspires others to get involved to help beautify public spaces and prevent marker deterioration, ensuring that local history can be enjoyed now and by future generations.
To help volunteers get started, a free downloadable kit is available with everything needed to plan a local marker-cleaning project, including a planning guide, cleaning instructions, and educational resources for students. Volunteers should comply with safety and parking regulations and seek permission when planning to clean a marker.
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