List of Pennsylvania state historical markers


This is a list of Pennsylvania state historical markers which were first placed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1914 and are currently overseen by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission as part of its Historical Markers Program. Since the modern PHMC program began in 1946, there have been over 2,000 historical sites in all 67 Pennsylvania counties that are marked by an official Pennsylvania state historical marker.

History

The Historical Markers Program was authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when it created Pennsylvania Historical Commission, the precursor of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, through the Act of the General Assembly No. 777, on July 25, 1913. The PHC was empowered to mark by proper monuments, tablets, or markers, places or buildings within the Commonwealth where historical events transpired.
The earliest markers were bronze plaques often mounted on large stones gathered from the Pennsylvania countryside. Philadelphia architect Paul Philippe Cret designed later bronze plaques that included the state's coat of arms with text laid out within a rectangular double border. Starting in 1945, markers were cast of aluminum, used gold-colored text of raised characters on a deep blue background within a silver-colored frame, and were initially affixed to concrete posts, so as to be more easily seen by motorists alongside roads. Eventually smaller and narrower city markers were added for their better suitability in urban settings.

Listings of markers by county

The following are approximate tallies of current marker listings in Pennsylvania by county. These counts are based on entries in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's database as of November, 2014. There are yearly additions to the listings and some markers may be missing or stolen.
CountySites
Adams44
Allegheny148
Armstrong11
Beaver17
Bedford31
Berks68
Blair27
Bradford46
Bucks79
Butler15
Cambria26
Cameron7
Carbon11
Centre29
Chester63
Clarion7
Clearfield12
Clinton12
Columbia8
Crawford38
Cumberland71
Dauphin81
Delaware57
Elk4
Erie52
Fayette49
Forest11
Franklin70
Fulton11
Greene10
Huntingdon23
Indiana16
Jefferson10
Juniata5
Lackawanna32
Lancaster81
Lawrence15
Lebanon32
Lehigh29
Luzerne64
Lycoming30
McKean14
Mercer19
Mifflin12
Monroe23
Montgomery60
Montour5
Northampton69
Northumberland33
Perry15
Philadelphia244
Pike19
Potter11
Schuylkill25
Snyder15
Somerset31
Sullivan7
Susquehanna10
Tioga15
Union22
Venango30
Warren12
Washington53
Wayne15
Westmoreland42
Wyoming13
York62
Total2,325

Approved Markers for 2014

  1. Fred Rogers, Latrobe
  2. St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Croation Church, Pittsburgh
  3. Commercial Radium Production, Pittsburgh
  4. George W. Crawford, Emlenton, Venango County
  5. Ross Leffler School of Conservation, Brockway, Jefferson County
  6. Bryden Horse Shoe Works, Catasauqua, Lehigh County
  7. Byberry Hall, Philadelphia
  8. Old St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Philadelphia
  9. Eddie Gottlieb, Philadelphia
  10. Elfreth's Alley, Philadelphia
  11. John Barry, Philadelphia
  12. John J. McDermott, Philadelphia
  13. Leopold Stokowski, Philadelphia
  14. Muhammed's Temple of Islam #12, Philadelphia
  15. Thomas A. Edison High School Honorable 64, Philadelphia
  16. Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, Philadelphia
  17. Enos Benner, Marlborough Township, Montgomery County
  18. Frank Cooper Craighead, South Middleton Township, Cumberland County
  19. Humphrey Marshall, West Bradford Township, Chester County
  20. Sheppton Mine Disaster and Rescue, Sheppton, Schuylkill County
  21. Stuart Tank, Berwick, Columbia County

    Approved Markers for 2015

  22. American Institute of Mining Engineers - Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County
  23. Anthony Benezet - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  24. The Dennis Farm - Brooklyn Twp., Susquehanna County
  25. Devon Horse Show - Devon, Chester County
  26. Don't Give Up the Ship Battle Flag - Erie, Erie County
  27. Dr. Constantine Hering - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  28. Eddie Adams - New Kensington, Westmoreland County
  29. Ethel Waters - Chester, Delaware County
  30. Maxfield Parrish - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  31. Medical Library Association - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  32. Mildred Scott Olmstead - Rose Valley, Delaware County
  33. Newport Citizens Free Captured Fugitive Slaves - Newport, Perry County
  34. Robertson Art Tile Company - Morrisville, Bucks County
  35. Samuel Roxy Rothafel - Forest City, Susquehanna County
  36. Sarah Josepha Hale - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  37. Sigma Sound Studios - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  38. Sullivan Progress Plaza - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  39. Tatiana Proskouriakoff - Landsdowne, Delaware County
  40. Terminal Commerce Building - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  41. Westinghouse Gas Wells - Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
  42. William Penn Charter School - Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
  43. York Water Company - York, York County