Plaques & Markers

The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) encourages owners of historic properties to display plaques as a means of recognizing and promoting the State and National Register program, but plaques are neither a requirement of the National Park Service, or DAHP.  Due to budgetary constraints, plaques are not provided by the state at this time.  While the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation does not endorse any manufacturer of plaques, the following names and addresses of foundries are provided as a public service.  These companies are known as experienced producers of National Register plaques.

Note that many National Register plaques use the standard terminology of "This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior".  Often this is supplemented by the historic name of the property and a built date as well as the date of listing.

There are no specific wording or guidelines for plaques or markers for Washington Heritage Register properties.   However if you chose to order a custom plaque we would recommend the following language: "This property has been placed on the Washington Heritage Register by the Governor's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation".

William G. Pomeroy Foundation Grant

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation has generously offered to supply National Register markers to public or non-profit (501C-3) agencies who wish to commemorate individually listed National Register properties and/or districts.  The foundation accepts applications at any time throughout the year.  At this time, funding is not available for private residences or commercial properties. The free standing plaques are cast aluminum, weigh almost 50 lbs., and are 3’ wide, 2’ tall and ½” thick.  The plaque also comes with a 1- 2 ½” ID 7’ aluminum mounting post.  A grantee can also select a plaque that can be mounted to a flat surface if that is preferred.  The Foundation will cover the cost of a plaque or sign, the pole and shipping.  Note the signage is only for National Register listed properties, not State Register properties.

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation (www.wgpfoundation.org) is a private grant making foundation with offices in Syracuse, New York.  Established by Bill Pomeroy in 2006, one of the Foundation’s main initiatives is to help preserve history and promote historical tourism through signage. The first historic signage grant program provided funding for Historic Roadside Markers in New York State.   In 2013, they established a grant program to provide funding for a sign or a plaque for public properties or districts in New York state that are on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, the Foundation generously decided to extend that program to Washington State. 

To download a grant application click here!

Plaque Companies

Highway Markers

Many communities have markers along the highway which denote the site of a Washington Heritage Register property or a National Register site. These are the infamous "brown signs" along state highways.

DAHP does not regulate these signs.  Requests to have a "brown" historic attraction sign installed in your community should be through the Regional office of State Department of Transportation (DOT).

The DOT office will only consider marking historic attractions if:

• They are included in the Washington Heritage Register, as designated and maintained by the State Historic Preservation Officer; and
• They have been approved by the Heritage Resource Center of the Washington State Historical Society; and
• The attraction also includes one or more of the following features at the site:
  • An interpretive center and/or a guided tour
  • Visible historic buildings, features, or ruins with an interpretive marker

For further information about Highway Markers see the State Department of Transportation Traffic Manual, Chapter 2, pg 48-50 or call your regional DOT Office.

Heritage Barn Markers

When funding allows, barns that are added to the Washington State Heritage Barn Register receive a free 10" x 24" custom metal plaque.  The plaque, made by the Department of Corrections in Walla Walla, commorates the listing of the barn and allows for a form of public education by displaying the built date of each barn.

For further information about the Historic Register Programs contact Michael Houser, State Architectural Historian at (360) 890-2634 or michael.houser@dahp.wa.gov.