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Historic Highway Markers

Application Process Overview

Some proposed marker subjects do not meet the criteria for the state system because they are of local significance rather than of state, regional, or national importance. The Code of Virginia empowers local governments to establish marker programs to commemorate persons or events of local  significance, provided that the local markers look different from the state markers. The goal is to avoid the impression that the local markers have been sanctioned or reviewed for accuracy by the Department of Historic Resources and its Board of Historic Resources. The typical local marker employs different colors from the state markers, a local emblem rather than the state seal, and the locality instead of the department's name.

Local jurisdictions are also responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of their local signage.  

To establish a local marker program, a local government official should contact the state marker program manager to discuss the proposed local program. The state marker program manager will present to the Board of Historic Resources for consideration of approval the proposed local marker design as well as the initial suggested text or texts for the program.  Pending approval, the local manager then submits any subsequent texts to the state program manager to determine informally whether the texts are of local, state, or national significance. If they are of local significance, the local government is authorized to proceed with its program; if topics are of state or national significance, the standard procedures are followed for obtaining state marker approval from the Board of Historic Resources.

The local government official should also contact the regional Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) office for information on the installation of markers, including clear zone and breakaway requirements as well as right-of-way restrictions. The Asset Management Division at VDOT is responsible for the installation and maintenance of most state historical markers and can address questions from the local government when initiating a new program.

For more information, please contact Francine Archer (804 367-2323, ext. 120) or Randy Jones (804 367-2323, ext. 117).

The following Virginia communities have local marker programs. To learn more about them, please refer to the contact information provided.

Arlington County. Arlington County, Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201.

Charles City County. Charles City County, Center for Local History, 10600 Courthouse Road, PO Box 128, Charles City, VA 23060.

City of Fairfax. Attention HFCI, City of Fairfax, City Hall, 10455 Armstrong ST, Fairfax, VA 22030

Fairfax County. Fairfax County History Commission, Fairfax City Regional Library, Virginia Room, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

City of Falls Church. Falls Church Historical Commission, 300 Park Avenue, Falls, Church, VA 22046

Henrico County.History and Historic Preservation Program, P.O. Box 27032, Richmond, VA 23273

City of Norfolk. City of Norfolk, City Historian, Norfolk Public Library, 301 E. City Hall Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510

Town of Occoquan. Town of Occoquan, P.O. Box 195, Occoquan, VA 22125

Prince William County. Office of Planning, 1 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192

City of Winchester. Old Town Development, 15 North Cameron ST, Winchester, VA 22601