The four deadlines for submitting applications are as follows:
February 1: The BHR will approve the selection of five markers from this pool of applicants at its March meeting; the BHR will consider the texts of these markers at its June meeting.
May 1: The BHR will approve the selection of five markers from this pool of applicants at its June meeting; the BHR will consider the texts of these markers at its September meeting.
August 1: The BHR will approve the selection of five markers from this pool of applicants at its September meeting; the BHR will consider the texts of these markers at its December meeting.
October 20: The BHR will approve the selection of five markers from this pool of applicants at its December meeting; the BHR will consider the texts of these markers at its March meeting.
Proposed marker topics will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
25 points Has potential to educate the public
25 points Fills a gap in the historical marker program in order to address a topic that the program has not extensively covered
20 points Addresses the history of a community that has been marginalized or underrepresented
20 points Reflects a breadth of historical significance that extends beyond the locality, preferably demonstrating statewide or national significance
10 points Contributes to a more equitable geographic distribution of markers
If your application is selected as one of the five that will move forward toward official approval, DHR staff will work with you to finalize the text that will appear on the marker. Staff will conduct additional research if necessary and will edit the text for accuracy, clarity, brevity, thoroughness, and educational value. The goal during this process is to write a concise, polished, and well-documented marker. Staff will then send the text to the Marker Editorial Committee, a group of outside scholars. If the committee accepts the text, DHR staff will present it to the Board of Historic Resources for official approval.
Once a marker is approved by the board, a district representative from the Virginia Department of Transportation (or a local public works department, if the marker is to be placed in an independent town or city outside of VDOT’s authority) will meet with the sponsor to determine a suitable roadside site for placing the marker in the public right-of-way.
For a more detailed description of the marker application process, refer to the marker application form above.
If you have any questions about the application process after reviewing the marker criteria and procedures, please contact Jennifer R. Loux at (804) 482-6089.