The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) is temporarily pausing its Historical Marker Program.
Ongoing supply chain issues, from sourcing raw materials to workforce availability, are impacting all areas of manufacturing, including the production of the iconic, blue-and-gold Pennsylvania Historical Markers.
The company responsible for the fabrication of the markers for Pennsylvania has communicated to PHMC that they are unable to guarantee timely delivery of new markers. This has necessitated rescheduling or cancelling planned marker dedications.
The issues impacting marker fabrication are not limited to Pennsylvania. Across the country, other states are experiencing similar delays affecting their marker programs.
These delays in marker production are exacerbated by the fact that during the pandemic several marker dedications were postponed, resulting in a backlog of approved markers to be fabricated.
Pennsylvanians continue to have great interest in the marker program, and last year the number of marker nominations submitted nearly doubled. PHMC is committed to ensuring that any markers pending review can be manufactured and installed prior to considering new nominations.
With this increase in volume and the uncertainty of the production schedule, PHMC will not be accepting new marker nominations after the current round scheduled for consideration at the December 7, 2022, commission meeting.
Although this is a regrettable situation, PHMC wants to avoid causing a greater backlog until we are certain when production can resume.
During this temporary hiatus, PHMC marker staff will focus on repairing and maintaining damaged markers and will be reviewing the marker program in the interest of continuous improvement.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of the Pennsylvania Historical Marker Program.
We invite you to visit PHMC online or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest news on this and other PHMC programs.
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Interested in learning more about the Historical Marker program.
This is a disappointing development. Can you provide an estimate of when new marker nominations will begin to be considered again? Curious also if the Commission has explored other fabricators for the markers.
I’m very interested in having a marker placed at Bldgs.100&101 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to honor the thousands of Marine’s who trained there. Many Marines went on to serve with honor from the First World War up to and beyond Vietnam. Many sadly did not return. Any help or guidance you can provide on when I can start the application will be greatly appreciated.
By getting involved with any number of these organizations or taking part in preservation activities like “marker tours” or volunteer cleanups
Nevertheless, it is important that PHMC protect the integrity of their program by making sure each marker is produced accurately and with quality craftsmanship.
Are we permitted to submit the applications, even though there might not be a dedication for an extended time?
Are we permitted to submit applications, pending the program re-opening in the future?
I’m very interested in having a marker placed at Bldgs.100&101 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to honor the thousands of Marine’s who trained there. Many Marines went on to serve with honor from the First World War up to and beyond Vietnam. Many sadly did not return. Any help or guidance you can provide on when I can start the application will be greatly appreciated.
In anticipation of America 250, we submitted an application into the queue for Miss Dalley’s Boarding House where Gouverneur Morris and Alexander Hamilton boarded during the Constitutional Convention.
Who can guess why the location where Gouverneur Morris resided in September of 1787 is enormously consequential? Hint: think Jefferson and “Declaration House.”
Here is a link to the narrative portion of our application, with a growing list of signatories:
https://www.statutesandstories.com/blog_html/miss-dallys-boarding-house-historic-marker-application/
Can old town markers that have since been destroyed be replaced when the program is reinstated?
While this is a distressing situation, surely there’s a rough estimate for when this program can be revived? In 2025 or later? It’s a shame this is happening, given that our nation’s Semiquincentennial is in 2026 and it would be expected that the nation’s birthplace was properly signed with these markers in the expected places. Perhaps it’s time to source another producer?
Pennsylvania’s historic preservation efforts play a crucial role in maintaining the state’s rich cultural heritage and architectural legacy.