Except on interstate highways, it is difficult to drive on Georgia streets and highways for any length of time without seeing one or more historical markers. Almost 2,600 of these icons of local history cover the state, a total only exceeded by Texas (11,000 ) and New York (2,800).

Historical markers come in a variety of shapes and formats. Technically, any manmade plaque or sign containing an inscription with historical information about a person, place, or event probably qualifies as a historical marker. Thus, the term would include metal markers on poles, plaques mounted on walls, and slabs of stone or concrete in the ground -- as long as they carried a message of historical significance. Using such a broad definition, many monuments and statues would also qualify, as they usually carry inscriptions about the person being honored. In fact, even grave stones probably could be considered historical markers.

However, using such a broad definition would make it impossible to compile a comprehensive list of historical markers because of the sheer number of markers, plaques, monuments, and other memorials that exist around the state.

Since the 1970s, David Seibert of Sandy Springs (see newspaper article) has pursued a goal of locating and personally visiting every historical marker in Georgia. To do so, he had to decide what constitutes a "historical marker." Essentially, his working definition is that a historical marker is a device of metal (usually brass or aluminum) that has cast lettering (rather than an inscription painted on a sign), and, with a few exceptions, is mounted on a freestanding post. Almost always, the marker shows the same wording on both sides, though in a few cases each side will contain different information.

The following list of historical markers initially was compiled by David based on ongoing work over the past two decades in collaboration with Ken Boyd, Harvey Gambrell, and Billy Townsend -- as well as earlier work by Carroll P. Scruggs, Ken Carlsrud, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and others. During this time, David, Ken, and Harvey have driven across the state on numerous occasions attempting to verify the existence and location of markers on the list.

The first organized effort to erect a series of historical markers in Georgia was funded by the U.S. Works Progress Administration, a New Deal program to create jobs during the Depression. A variety of markers were installed around the state, though most of these no longer stand.

WPA Marker

In 1951, the Georgia General Assembly created the Georgia Historical Commission with responsibility

. . . to promote and increase knowledge and understanding of the history of this State from the earliest times to the present, including the archaeological, Indian, Spanish, Colonial and American eras by adopting and executing general plans, methods and policies for permanently preserving and marking objects, sites, areas, structures and ruins of historic or legendary significance, such as trials, post-roads, highways or railroads, inns or taverns; rivers, inlets, mill-ponds, bridges, plantations, harbors or wharves; mountains, valleys, coves, swamps, forests or everglades; churches, missions, campgrounds and places of worship, schools, colleges and universities; courthouses and seats of government; places of treaties, councils, assemblies and conventions; factories, foundries, industries, mills, stores and banks; cemeteries and burial mounds; battlefields, fortifications and arsenals, by erecting signs, pointers, markers, monuments, temples and museums with tablets, inscriptions, pictures, paintings and sculptures, maps, diagrams, leaflets and publications explaining their significance.

Thereafter -- particularly between 1952 and 1959 -- the GHC embarked on an ambitious program of erecting official state historical markers at most county courthouses, at countless sites associated with Sherman's march through Georgia, and other locations. These markers were made of cast aluminum and painted olive green with gold lettering. At the bottom center of each GHC marker was the designation "Georgia Historical Commission," plus an identification number (such as 060-14) in the bottom left and the year of the marker's erection in the bottom right. The first part of the identification number was a 3-digit number identifying the county numbered alphabetically from Appling (001) -- to Worth (159). The second number indicated the total number of GHC markers in the county as of that marker. For example, a marker numbered 060-14 would mean that this was the 14th GHC marker erected in Fulton County.

Georgia Historical Commission Marker

Few new GHC markers were erected after 1959, and in 1968 the Historical Commission decided to stop erecting new markers. By that time, the Commission felt that practically everything of historical significance in Georgia had been recognized. Also, the cost of erecting a marker had risen from $117 in the early 1950s to $1,200.

The Executive Reorganization Act of 1972 abolished the Georgia Historical Commission and transferred its functions to the new Georgia Department of Natural Resources as of 1973. Now, DNR's State Parks and Historic Sites Division was responsible for erecting new historical markers -- as well as maintaining or replacing existing ones. In the following 15 years, less than 50 new markers were erected. Instead, most of DNR's efforts went into maintaining the existing network of 2,000 markers.

DNR State Historical Marker

For the most part, DNR's new and replaced markers were identical in appearance to those of the Georgia Historical Commission. The old numbering system was continued, though new and replaced GHC markers were now identified at the bottom with the inscription "Georgia Historical Marker." At some point , DNR maintenance staff began painting a brown area in the center of the historical marker to simulate the appearance of metal long exposed to outdoor conditions.

Simulated Brown Patina on Historical Marker

The simulated brown patina was discontinued in the 1980s. However, as more and more GHC markers had to be repaired and repainted, the background color of many markers shifted from olive green to dark green -- and even outright brown.

Dark Green and Brown Repainted GHC Markers

In the early 1990s, as part of an initiative to privatize certain state functions, responsibility for repair and replacement of state historical markers was shifted from DNR to a private contractor in another state. This arrangement last for several years but ultimately proved unsatisfactory. In the mid-1990s, DNR was given back its responsibility for historical marker repair and replacement. However, few --if any--new markers were erected. Then in 1997, as a cost-saving measure, the General Assembly transferred responsibility for erecting new state historical markers from DNR to the Georgia Historical Society. However, maintenance of the existing 2,000 GHC and DNR historical markers remains with DNR, with rangers at state parks and historic sites responsible for monitoring the condition of state markers in their area and reporting those that need repainting, repair, or replacement.

Since 1997, the General Assembly has given the Georgia Historical Society an annual appropriation of $75,000, which funds the historical research, casting erection, and dedication of approximately 20 new markers each year.

Georgia Historical Society Marker

Similar in shape and appearance to the official state markers, GHS markers are painted black with white lettering, with the seal of the society replacing the state seal. Also, GHS markers have a dual dual numbering system, where one number indicates year and order erected during that year (e.g., "1999.15"), while the other number represents the chronological number of the county plus the order of GHS markers erected in that county (e.g., "59-1"). To clarify, "1999.15" means that this is the 15th GHS marker erected in Georgia in 1999, while "59-1" indicates that this is the first GHS marker erected in county 59 (Franklin County). In contrast to the old 3-digit number for each county used by the state, GHS uses a one-, two-, or three-digit number for a county.

In addition to the official state historical markers erected by the Georgia Historical Commission, Department of Natural Resources, and Georgia Historical Commission, a variety of other organizations in Georgia have been involved in erecting new markers, most notably the Historic Chattahoochee Commission (which also has black markers with white lettering).

Historic Chattahoochee Commission Marker

Various cities, educational institutions, churches, organizations (such as the Colonial Dames and the Garden Clubs of Georgia) also have erected historical markers from time to time. In some cases, these markers are green with gold lettering, and except for lacking the state seal, look very similar to the old state historical markers. And, in a few instances, the unofficial marker is numbered according to the system formerly used for official markers.

Methodist Church Marker

Counting both official and unofficial markers, Georgia currently has approximately 2,600 historical markers (though several hundred of these are not currently standing). A number of markers have been damaged or destroyed because of accidents, vandalism, and theft. More commonly, weather and bird droppings have resulted in stains, peeling paint, and other damage requiring many markers to be sent off for repair or repainting each year. Some markers have been temporarily removed because of highway construction or courthouse restorations. Unfortunately, once taken down, some markers are lost or misplaced. Also, because of lack of funding, DNR's marker repair shop has been limited in its ability restore or replace markers and then reinstall them.

The Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia expresses its appreciation to David Seibert for his willingness to share his copyrighted list for use on this web site. Working with him, we are attempting to keep his list updated and accurate.

I now have individual web pages for several hundred markers that includes a photograph and text of the marker. While photographing historical markers will continue, it is doubtful that a complete photographic record of every marker in Georgia will be assembled in the near future. Nevertheless, you will find a large and growing number with images and text on this web site.

If you are aware of additional markers that should be added to the list, missing markers, or any other changes that should be reflected on this list, please contact me by e-mail. Also, if you have photographs of markers that could be used on this web site, please send i t to me for scanning. If you have a digital image, we need an image--preferably JPEG or TIF--at least six inches in width and a resolution of at least 72 dpi.

Ed Jackson

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

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