Delmarva has a lot of history and many things have happened here on the Peninsula that are historically significant.
Many of those places are marked by signs or plaques that tell you a little bit about why that site is important. Steve Marz, director and state archivist with the Delaware Public Archives and Kevin Barni, historical marker program coordinator for Delaware, joins us on the couches to tell us more about these historical markers.
There are 630 signs statewide and there are about 20 signs placed each year. A site qualifies for a historical marker by being an event, place, persons, groups or institutions significant in Delaware’s local, regional, state, or national history. It takes about 4-6 months after applying for a marker to be placed on the site.
This program has been around since 1931 and 152 signs were placed in the first two years. Signs are paid for from transportation budget for roadside improvements. It’s at no cost to the public and state legislators choose which roadside improvement they prefer.
Markers are mostly unveiled in spring and summer. They are hoping to put a sign up in Bethel in Sussex County in March.
