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History Happened Here
National and global events all happened somewhere, and historical markers mark
Frontiersman, Soldier,
Writer, Astronaut |
the place where many occurred. But the richness of history is in its local details, details that can be insignificant on the global stage: the home of an individual who made a difference; a natural feature, building, byway; or just something interesting that happened nearby. History is not just about the high and mighty.
Markers tell stories and point out facts. There is one at the site the northernmost battle of the U.S. Civil War and another at the southernmost point in the United States (can you guess where?). There is one next to a 17th century Japanese stone lantern symbolizing 20th century peace, and another one less than 20 miles away reminding us of the Nike missile sites that were built the same year the lantern was dedicated. They tell of battles,
Generals Captured in their
Union Suits, Literally! |
massacres and hangings; of humanitarians, educators, and a beloved stagecoach horse; of mountains, lakes, rivers, bridges, roads, and other natural and man-made wonders.
There are countless thousands of great stories marked by markers—and some boring ones too. Some markers simply recite facts while others are insightful, obscure, cryptic, patriotic, fascinating, sad, funny, or just downright bizarre. Many of those markers are on these pages, others are waiting for you to discover and add them to this database.
So hit the road and experience history first-hand yourself. History happened nearby.
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Are You A Collector?
Do you collect historical markers? Would you like to start? If you’re a collector, or want to get started, 
Clara Barton,
Steamboat Gothic
Aficionado |
consider uploading your discoveries to this site. Even if someone else beat you to the submission, you can still add a fresh photo, better directions, or some additional insight into the subject described. What do you get in return? We’ll credit each submission by publishing your name and town on that page, unless, of course, you wish to remain anonymous.
You can add markers yourself. It's easy! Check marker submission guidelines, then click Add A Marker to get started. Adding photos, links and comments is just as easy: go the the marker's page and click on the links at the top or bottom of the page.
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Preservation Writes Us Up
Here is an August 2010 article by Gwendolyn Purdom in Preservation Magazine entitled Leaving Their Mark about the Historical Marker Database and our aim to document every historical marker in North America.
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Most Viewed Markers This Year
| 1 • | Mission San Francisco Solano Sonoma, California | | 2 • | John Ericsson Statue New York, New York | | 3 • | Chickahominy Bluff Richmond, Virginia | | 4 • | The Civil War Submarine, H.L. Hunley Charleston, South Carolina | | 5 • | Rosewood, Florida Rosewood, Florida | | 6 • | The Masterson House Carrollton, Kentucky | | 7 • | Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Crow Agency, Montana | | 8 • | Old Fort Sumner and “Billy the Kid’s” Grave Fort Sumner, New Mexico | | 9 • | Site of Santa Cruz Mission Santa Cruz, California | | 10 • | John Sherman, 1823-1900 / The Sherman Anti-Trust Act Mansfield, Ohio |
Table composed in 57 ms.
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HMdb.org Cards
HMdb.org 3½" x 2" cards are now available. We’ll mail contributors a dozen or more at no charge. Simply send a note to the editor with a mailing address and state how many you would like. Sign one and put it in your wallet to show you are a contributor to HMdb.org. It might come in handy when someone asks you what you’re doing next to a government installation with a camera. Hand the rest out to friends and curious bystanders. Your note will be discarded after the envelope is addressed.
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Recommend Entire Website
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Or use buttons at the bottom of each marker page to recommend individual markers.
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Marker of the Week | “Liver Eating” Johnson Pattenburg, New Jersey
 The title hints at the gruesome story, but the marker text glosses over it and instead points us to Robert Redford’s 1972 movie which said nothing about it either. The Wikipedia entry recounts the legend, which ends with Johnson making peace with those he persecuted. Alan Edelson of Union Township, New Jersey, found the marker and Keith Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania, added to it. The gruesomeness occurred in Wyoming, where Johnson is buried and where there is another marker waiting to be submitted. Previous Markers of the Week.
Article fetched in 1 ms. |
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Markers Recently Added
| Jan 27 • | The Pitch Oven (1902) Bath, Maine | | Jan 27 • | The Mould Loft (1917) Bath, Maine | | Jan 27 • | Auntie Stone Cabin Fort Collins, Colorado | | Jan 26 • | Watts Towers Watts, California | | Jan 26 • | Welcome to the Los Rios Historic District San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | "El Adobe de Capistrano" San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | "Oliveras Home" San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Blas Aguilar Adobe San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Mission San Juan Capistrano San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Capistrano Depot San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Egan House San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Domingo Yorba Adobe San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Garcia Adobe San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | O'Neill Museum San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Combs House San Juan Capistrano, California |
All markers added in the last week, in the last 30 days.Table composed in 2 ms.
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Take a Tour of the Database
Click on the three dots under the Search button at the top of the right hand margin. Repeat. Every time you click, you will be shown a different marker at random.
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HMdb Goes Mobile
On your cell phone’s browser. When you’re out and about use your cell phone or PDA to find out what markers are near you. More info.
In your GPS unit. Does your GPS device support GPX files? You can download the locations of historical markers into your GPS unit with these files. Push the right buttons and your GPS will tell you when a marker is near; or tell you how to get to them. Some units will also display the text of the marker. GPX Download index. Or get a TomTom POI file.
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Keep An Eye on Those Markers
Enter your town in the Search by Place search box on the More Search Options (or use the County list) to get a list of markers near where you live and work.
Keep an eye out for them when you're out on the road. You would be surprised how many disappear in the course of a year.
To report a missing marker, use the “Correct This Page” link on the marker’s page and scroll down to the “Is Marker Missing?” section. A photo of the stump, hole in the ground, or place where the marker was is necessary for proof. Also, please take a few minutes and inform your local historical society.
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Recently Modified Marker Entries | | Jan 27 • | The Mormon Battalion at San Diego San Diego, California | | Jan 27 • | Services of the Mormon Battalion San Diego, California | | Jan 26 • | Pioneer Oil Refinery Newhall, California | | Jan 26 • | Hampton Plantation St. Simons Island, Georgia | | Jan 26 • | Site of the Valenzuela Adobe San Juan Capistrano, California | | Jan 26 • | Mercantile Building, 1894 San Diego, California | | Jan 26 • | Apex / Club Alabam Los Angeles, California | | Jan 26 • | North Gate of City of Anaheim Anaheim, California | | Jan 26 • | Red Hill North Tustin, California | | Jan 26 • | Wade Hampton Monument Charleston, South Carolina | | Table composed in 0 ms. |
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Google Maps Links
Markers in this database have links to Google maps pinpointing their location.
HINT: Click on the Satellite button in the upper right of the maps to switch to a satellite image of the ground at that location. Once you do that you may be able to zoom in further using the Plus and Minus buttons on the left side of the map.
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HMdb Featured on Broadcast
Ted Landphair does two-minute stories on Americana for Voice of America radio, broadcast at various times over VOA’s English language service. Listen to this one, first broadcast February 20, 2008, entitled “Lots More People Can Now Read Those Roadside Signs.” Here is the illustrated transcript.
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NOTICE
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Do you have some history that you want to publish on the Internet? HMdb.org can provide hosting space at HistoryArchives.org at no charge. What you want to publish does not have to be related to a historical marker. For more information, contact an editor.
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