2024 nominations for historical markers are now closed. You can review the nominations below.
The Underrepresented Communities Historical Markers program began in the fall of 2023, when the Dane County Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment calling for the creation of a historical markers program in Dane County. While there are existing historical marker programs in the area, Dane County’s first historical markers program will provide an opportunity for us to highlight the many peoples and cultures of Dane County that have thrived here for many years.
A historical marker can take many forms, but in short, it is a sign placed in a significant location with text or images that helps to teach current residents and visitors about our past. Markers typically have text describing the event, but can also include images, quotes, and web links to other resources and information. While the details of the markers for Dane County are not yet decided, here are a few examples of what a historical marker may look like.
Who decides where we put the historical markers?You do! If you have an idea about a place, person or event that’s particularly important to you and your community, please take a few moments to submit your idea on our online survey. If you are a member of an organization, group or unit of government that represents or serves a particular community, we strongly encourage you to work together and send one submission on behalf of your group. The Dane County Heritage Preservation Commission will begin its review of nominated sites at its November 26, 2024 meeting, and will schedule a public hearing on submittals in early 2025.
In addition to physical signs that will be placed around Dane County, we will also create an interactive web map that will allows us to recognize additional locations of significance, even if they do not have a sign at the location. If funding is available, Dane County will be able to place additional historical markers at a later time.
• Dane County Historical Society Historical Marker Program
• Wisconsin State Historical Marker Program
• City of Madison Underrepresented Communities Historic Resources Survey Report
• Fairfax County, Virginia: Black/African American Historical Marker Project
• North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission: Marker Projects
• Michigan Latino Community Coalition: Latinx Historical Marker Project
• Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project
• Portland, Oregon Muslim History Project archive
• Hmong American Center
• Colorado Asian Pacific United: Denver Mural & Historical Markers
