The second annual National Historic Marker Day will take place on Friday, April 29, and volunteers across the country are invited to participate. The nationwide event encourages individuals and groups of all sizes to help maintain their community’s historic markers and celebrate local history. This fun and family-friendly event was created by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, a philanthropic organization based in Syracuse that provides grants for historic roadside markers and plaques.
According to The Historical Marker Database, more than 157,000 markers are installed throughout the United States. Historic markers not only commemorate and preserve history, but also help to educate the public, encourage pride of place, promote tourism, and generate economic benefits; however, markers must be regularly cleaned, and many have not received care for years. National Historic Marker Day provides an opportunity for individuals and groups to beautify their communities while bringing greater attention to local history.
“We’ve all seen that historic marker that’s been through a rough winter or experienced years of neglect,” said Bill Pomeroy, Founder and Trustee of the Pomeroy Foundation. “National Historic Marker Day is the perfect opportunity to make a difference through a small gesture of community service. It’s about getting outdoors and having fun while celebrating your important local history.”
All are welcome to participate in National Historic Marker Day, including families and friends, civic organizations, schools, and youth groups. Participants are encouraged to share photos of their marker cleaning efforts on social media using #NationalHistoricMarkerDay. Photos can also be emailed to info@wgpfoundation.org.
In 2022, National Historic Marker Day received an official designation from the National Day Calendar, reaffirming the public recognition that past, current and future volunteers so well deserve, while enhancing the national exposure for this community service event. Those who would like to participate in the event are encouraged to register as volunteers via the Pomeroy Foundation website. To learn more, receive updates, and access the cleaning guide, visit https://www.wgpfoundation.org/national-historic-marker-day/.
For a list of marker locations, visit https://www.wgpfoundation.org/history/map/ or https://www.hmdb.org/
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