Virginia's historical highway markers connect travelers to the stories behind the road
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Virginia’s roadside markers provide a way to explore the people, places and events that shaped the commonwealth and the nation
RICHMOND — You’ve probably driven past one of Virginia’s distinctive silver and black historical markers without realizing just how much history is waiting to be discovered along the road.
With more than 2,700 historical highway markers across the commonwealth, Virginia has one of the nation’s largest collections of roadside historical signs and the oldest state historical marker program in the country. The Highway Marker Program is managed cooperatively by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
As the nation continues to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Virginia’s historical markers offer another way to explore the stories that helped shape the country. From the marker outside St. John’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, where Patrick Henry delivered his famous “liberty or death” speech, to the marker in Virginia Beach near where the first permanent English settlers in North America landed in 1607 and would go on to establish Jamestown, the markers connect travelers to history in the places where it happened.
A partnership to preserve Virginia's history
Together, VDOT and DHR help preserve and share Virginia’s history with residents and visitors as they travel throughout the commonwealth.
DHR researches proposed marker topics, working with applicants to develop marker texts and presenting them to the Virginia Board of Historic Resources for approval. Individuals and organizations can submit new markers through an application process managed by DHR. To qualify, a topic must have regional, statewide or national significance and must have attained its significance at least 50 years ago. About five to eight new topics are approved each quarter.
VDOT is responsible for installing and maintaining historical markers in its right-of-way. Local public works departments are responsible in cities and towns that maintain their own roadways.
Discover history along Virginia's roads
To explore Virginia’s historical markers, visit the DHR’s Highway Marker Program website and use the Historical Marker Database to search for markers by location and topic.
Have a story you think belongs on a Virginia historical marker? Learn more about how to propose a new marker through the Historical Marker Application Process.
For more information about America’s 250th anniversary and ways to participate in the commemoration in Virginia through the rest of this year, visit VA250.
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