Commemorating Shared History: The Maryland Historical Marker Program

Since the early 1930s, the state of Maryland has installed over 800 historical markers along state roads (Figure 1). The popularity of the automobile, along with a renewed interest in history during the early 20th century, stimulated state agencies to form partnerships to fund a historical marker program. In 1932, the first major marker effort was undertaken in conjunction with the Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), in partnership with the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), reviews marker applications while the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) funds, installs, and maintains the markers along state roads and property. Currently, MDOT is working with different ethnic commissions and tribal leaders to correct factual errors and insensitive language on some of Maryland’s older roadside markers.

Figure 1: MDOT Interactive Historical Marker Database Map.

Historical markers across Maryland are installed to highlight people, places, and events with significant state history. Historical markers must commemorate at least one of the following: events that have contributed to broad patterns of history, a person or group of people who were significant to Maryland’s past, built resources that embody the distinctive characteristics of type, period, or method of construction, or that represent a work of a master, or possesses high artistic value, resources that have yielded information important to the understanding of Maryland history (i.e. archaeological sites), or traditionally disenfranchised individuals or communities with a history that can be tied to Maryland significant events or people.

Across Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, multiple roadside markers detail important sites linked to the American Revolution. Many of these markers detail the movements of George Washington. The Widow Ramsey’s Tavern and Rawling’s Tavern, installed in 1934 and 1935 respectively, commemorate taverns along where George Washington stopped to have breakfast before taking command of the Revolutionary forces. Some markers also discuss military movements, such as Lafayette’s Encampment (installed 1989) that describes Marquis de Lafayette’s troops’ path through Annapolis to the decisive Battle of Yorktown in 1781. In Crownsville, the Belvoir historical marker (installed 1967) notes that Rochambeau encamped there as the troops marched on to Annapolis and eventually to Yorktown.

Many of Maryland’s markers highlight individuals making a significant impact to not only Maryland, but our nation. Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806), a free-born Black man from present-day Baltimore County, is a perfect example (installed 1954). Banneker was a member of the District of Columbia survey team while also being a self-educated astronomer, mathematician, and naturalist who published calculated almanacs between 1792 and 1797.

Some of Maryland’s notable impacts on the nation involve transportation infrastructure, especially railways. The Mount Savage Iron Works marker in Allegany County, installed in 1964, is where the first iron rails were manufactured within the United States. These rails contributed to the passenger and freight rail lines that run throughout the state and connect Maryland to economic opportunities.

Maryland archaeologists have been shifting the way we see our past. In 2025, MDOT unveiled the Harriet Tubman Birthplace marker in Woolford, Dorchester County. The recent archaeological investigations at Harriet Tubman’s birthplace added to our knowledge of her life. With this new information, MDOT consulted with Tubman relatives to draft the message historical marker. In addition, a second Tubman marker was installed in front of the Brodess Farm in Bucktown, Dorchester County in 2025. This sign replaced an old marker that had inaccurate facts about how many people Tubman led to freedom.

MDOT collaborated with the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs to ensure the legacy and impact of Indigenous People is accurately shared with the traveling public. This involves consultation with tribal leaders to ensure their history is told in their words. In November 2025, MDOT and the Pocomoke Indian Nation hosted an unveiling event for the Pocomoke Tribal Homelands marker in Worcester County (Figure 2). This marker highlights the influence of the Pocomoke Nation throughout the Delmarva Peninsula and discusses their relationship with the Maryland colony in the form of treaties spanning from 1678 to 1742. The event brought together MDOT and multiple tribal councils to celebrate Maryland’s Indigenous history.

Figure 2: Pocomoke Nation Tribal Homelands Marker Unveiling Event.

The almost 100-year history of Maryland’s Historical Marker Program has succeeded in commemorating and properly preserving the significant people, places, and events that have left a lasting impact on both the state and the nation. By incorporating new archaeological information and new historical research, MDOT and MHT can better preserve this shared history as well as ensure previous markers are updated to properly commemorate the significant person, place, or event the marker commemorates.