Many small towns across America often honor their home town hero with historical Markers. Darke County Ohio honored one of their own, Annie Oakley, at this site with both a traditional marker and a life-sized statue. Both the marker and statue are well presented with pictures submitted by Correspondent William Fischer, Jr. of Lancaster, Ohio.

For a brief period in 1985, news around the country centered on a whale. Dubbed "Humphrey," the whale quickly became the most widely publicized humpback whale in history. Concerned for his safety, people around the world watched him errantly travel into San Francisco Bay and up the Sacramento River as far as Rio Vista, where this marker is located. The marker, one of less than a hundred entered dedicated to animals (so far), was contributed by Correspondent Andrew Ruppenstein of Sacramento, CA.

While historical markers are meant as permanent reminders of historical events, sometimes markers of historical significance need help to remain in place. This historical marker, submitted by Correspondent Ron Pounds of Whittier, California, was placed to identify Billy the Kids's grave marker. Having already "disappeared" twice in the last 60 years from its home near Fort Sumner, New Mexico, the grave marker now sports an iron cage to keep it from disappearing again.

Chances are you've heard the saying, "George Washington slept here." There is a reason for the saying; the man slept in a lot of places. He also kept very accurate records of each visit. We have a Marker Series, appropriately titled, "George Washington Slept Here," dedicated to his overnight visits. Of over 120 markers entered into the series so far, this marker, submitted by correspondent Mike Stroud of Bluffton, SC, is the first to actually announce that event in its title.

Sometimes in the search for "Bite-Size Bits of Local History," you get a real history lesson too. HMdb Associate Editor Kevin White stopped to get pictures of this marker and the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, and had the opportunity to speak with the church elders and take a guided tour of the church and cemetery. In addition to pictures and a copy of the church's informational handout, his history lesson is briefly repeated for readers to enjoy.

Many historical markers are placed to recall places that are lost to history. This marker, submitted by Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California and with contributions from a Sacramento California contributor, was intended to do just that. It seems, however, the town's disappearance wasn't meant to be, as "geology and water rights negated" the plan. The people of Volcano, their town no longer threatened, had this marker moved closer to the town in 1980.

Few markers tell a long story, and most that do are considerably larger than your standard highway historical marker. This average-sized, road side post marker, submitted by veteran marker hunter David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia, manages to tell Sheriff Wyatt's life story within its small space, complete with humorous anecdotes.

Six high relief bronze plaques flank the central stone marker of this Veterans Monument in Branchburg, NJ. The impressive artwork on these reliefs, clearly seen in detailed photographs submitted by correspondent Alan Edelson of nearby Union Township, commemorate events in our country's military history from the American Revolution through Vietnam.

Veterans of the Union and Confederate armies from across the nation converged on Gettysburg in 1938 - 75 years after the battle - for one last great "hurrah" for the old soldiers. Nearly 2,000 gathered here, the majority were in their 90s and many were over 100, to view the unveiling of this monument. As one of the most popular stops when touring Gettysburg, tens of thousands visit the memorial every year. Unfortunately in January of this year, the monument was defaced by vandals. To learn more, follow the links provided with this entry, submitted by Civil War Category Editor Craig Swain of Leesburg, VA.

No history of California is complete without mention of at least one of 21 missions. This mission, the 15th and largest, is as beautiful as it is historic. Started in 1803, it has survived numerous earthquakes and been in continuous use since July 1, 1812. Current pictures and period postcards, submitted by Contributing Editor Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, California, touch on its historic beauty.

While all we require for marker entries is a marker's text, location and a clear picture, our site intends to provide a source for those interested in researching further into the area or history a marker describes. In this thorough submission by correspondent Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, S.C., not only is the marker explored, but also the neighborhood for which it was named.

Historical Markers are placed to honor history, promote civic pride, and educate visitors about local history. Many read markers and then seek to learn more about the person or area marked. Some markers touch on more personal history, such as this marker submitted by Correspondent Robert H. Moore, II of Swoope, Virginia, whose third great grandfather ran a flatboat along this very canal.

Correspondent Mike Stroud, of Bluffton, South Carolina, submitted this marker located at the base of an ornamental gateway arch in Tampa Florida’s Latin Quarter. The arch announces entry into Ybor City, an Old World enclave rich in Spanish and Cuban influence and once known as the "Cigar Capitol of the World."

A small wooden marker with brief bullets of history identifies this 100 year old opera house in Abbeville, SC. Greenville, SC correspondent Brian Scott's interest in this Landmark of American Music led to detailed history, historic newspaper articles and 10 pictures to tell the story behind the marker.

Older New York historical markers like this one have very few words, and this one is no exception. Marking an event proudly remembered by the Schoharie County citizens, Correspondent Howard Ohlhous from Duanesburg, New York uncovered the history behind the marker and, very professionally, shares the details.

Historical markers are often small, and therefore list only enough brief facts to interest the viewer in local history. This marker, submitted by contributor Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland, has much more to say, and is big enough to tell the story. This is the first of 14 poster-sized illustrated signs along Greater U Street in Washington DC, illustrating that neighborhood's colorful history through story and period images.

Though telling only a brief history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and looking very much like any other of the more than 2500 other markers in its home state, this Pennsylvania historical marker is now enjoying national recognition. Originally submitted by HMdb editor Christopher Busta-Peck of Cleveland, Ohio, this week's Marker of the Week is currently on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

The first non-Indian settlements in California were Catholic missions. The first of these, in San Diego, was established by Father Junipero Serra. Serra established nine of the 21 California Missions. This statue and marker, submitted by Contributing Editor Syd Whittle of El Dorado Hills, CA, is one of many throughout the state recognizing his legacy.

Not only a marker outlining local history, but also one with local history of its own. This ornate marker, with a silhouette at the top depicting the Schenectady Massacre of 1690, was submitted by Correspondent Howard Ohlhous from Duanesburg, New York. Originally erected in 1925, the unique marker has been refurbished twice by Schenectady County volunteers.

Many frontier outposts, like the one described on this marker submitted by correspondent Brian Scott of Greenville, SC, began as military posts and grew to become centers of trade. As was common with most early outposts, Oconee Station was built near established crossroads and gathering places. One can now only wonder if it was the gentle terrain, or the beautiful surroundings, that attracted this area's first visitors.

On an overcast New Year's Eve in 1783, the Revolutionary War was officially over and British ships were evacuating troops and Loyalists. In what many considered "the last tragic incident" of the Revolutionary War, 14 members of the British Navy lost their lives. A small fraction of the story is told on this marker, submitted by correspondent R.C. of Shrewsbury, New Jersey.

One of the most famous events in American military history occurred when General George Washington crossed the Delaware River to defeat British forces in the Battle of Trenton. This historic event, depicted on this marker submitted by North Arlington, NJ Contributor Bill Coughlin, took place on a Christmas night 232 years ago.

From the link provided on this page, climb into Lincoln’s buggy and follow his travels through Illinois while he was a member of the Circuit of the Eighth Judicial District (of Illinois) during 1847-1857. Al Wolf, our Correspondent from Veedersburg, Indiana, recently travelled Lincoln's route and captured 47 markers to help guide you on your way.

It took 33 pictures and two correspondents to best capture and display all the markers, sculptures and commemorative panels of this impressive memorial to the sea services. Correspondent Richard Miller, a Navy Veteran himself, first entered the main marker and its story. Category Editor Craig Swain then added pictures of the 26 bronze relief panels surrounding the 100-foot diameter of the world and its center piece, the symbolic statue of a Lone Sailor.

The "Safety Follows Wisdom" award was first presented by the Portland Cement Association in 1924. Near identical markers sprouted up in small cement communities around America. Many, including this one submitted by William Fischer, Jr. of Ohio, out-survived the plants who earned them. Though their legacy still lives on with annual plant safety awards, these costly eight-foot tall trophies are now just a historical reminder.

As Americans stop to celebrate Thanksgiving with feast and family, it is fitting to remember its beginnings in this country over 230 years ago. This York Pennsylvania Historic Marker, submitted by veteran correspondent Bill Pfingston, reminds us it was Sam Adams of Massachusetts who first advocated a "day of public thanksgiving."

Churches were often a town's centerpoint during our country's early days, and this one is no exception. Many of Edgefield, South Carolina's most upstanding citizens frequented its Baptist church during their lives, and were subsequently buried on its grounds. Our Greenville correspondent, Brian Scott, captured many beautiful pictures of the church today, and its remembrances of Edgefield's most famous sons.

While many entries in the Historical Marker database are simply a marker picture and inscription, we encourage anyone to add new photographs, links, information and commentary about the subject of the marker. Al Wolf, our correspondent from Veedersburg, Indiana, contacted the designer of the Whitley County Korean War Memorial, who provided information and 18 pictures to illustrate the history of its design and installation by a small group of dedicated volunteers.

A marker in Georgia with a lot of text was recently a marker of the week for its verbosity, but this one takes the cake. It describes the history of the sugar industry in Hawaii and more specifically in Koloa on Kauai Island. And it faces a fascinating sculpture celebrating each of the diverse peoples who worked to make sugar first the Hawaiian Kingdom’s and then the U.S. Territory of Hawaii’s most important and profitable export.

Historical markers cover a broad range of topics. Not all are concerned with serious textbook history. Some discuss the lighter side of our history and culture. Correspondent Dawn Bowen located this marker discussing the "birthplace" of a very familiar character from many children's entertainment programs - "Kermit" the Frog.

While sports fans know there are many games over the years which are considered "historic." Yet few get their own markers. But how about a marker to a "historic" loss? Well that is just what our correspondent William Fischer, Jr located - a marker detailing a 64-0 loss by Ohio State University to Wooster in 1890. Just so happened this was the first game in Ohio State's history. What the marker doesn't mention is since the loss the "Buckeyes" have compiled a record including over 800 wins, seven national championships, and nine undefeated seasons. It's football season, and the Site of the First Ohio State Football game has our marker of the week.

When gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in January 1848, it sparked a watershed event in American history. During the "California Gold Rush," over a quarter million people made their way west, quickly advancing the then Territory of California into statehood in 1850. The long term effects of this mass migration and increased wealth on the American economy are difficult to measure. However, as with many historical events, the profound often begins in rather ordinary settings. While documenting the California state marker on site, correspondent Syd Whittle snapped this photo of the Sutter's Mill reproduction, showing it's rather simple construction.

Last year this month our Category Editor Craig Swain from Leesburg Virginia was dodging traffic in Winchester looking for this marker, without success. Maybe the guidebooks were wrong. He checked with the Department of Historic Resources in Richmond and found out that it had been temporarily removed. Our Contributing Editor Bill Coughlin from North Arlington New Jersey had a photo from earlier in the year, so the marker was added to the database, marked missing. And just last Saturday, a prolific anonymous contributor added a photo taken earlier that day of the marker, newly replanted. Team work!

Although he won’t admit it, we suspect one of the reasons our Category Editor Christopher Busta-Peck moved from Baltimore to Cleveland was that he ran out of markers. Here is one from his new home. This one is at Case Western Reserve University and is about a 19th century experiment with light—one of the cornerstones of modern physics.

Everybody knows about the first transcontinental railroad across the United States and how the two railroads that were simultaneously building from west and east met at Promontory Utah May 10, 1869. But it appears that on that day the railroad did not go further west than Sacramento. Syd Whittle, our Contributing Editor from El Dorado Hills California found this marker and reports that it was not until this bridge was completed on September 10th that the railroad finally reached San Francisco Bay.

A lot of history happened in Oxford, and it took a big historical marker to summarize it. This one would have broken its monopole. It probably has more words on it than any other marker in the database. Our correspondent David Seibert of Sandy Springs managed to stuff all those words onto its page.

Craig Swain, our Civil War Category Editor from Leesburg Virginia, is tackling Gettysburg in his usual thorough and well annotated manner. This marker is one of the very many he has added recently. This spring he finished entering the hundreds of markers at the Antietam battlefield in the same way. All of his and other contributors' entries from Gettysburg and surrounding the town are the marker(s) of the week this week.

Here is a historical marker unique in the way it has been mounted—upside down—yet appropriate to its subject. Our correspondent from El Dorado Hills in California, Syd Whittle, found it in Mono County. Everything in the Upside-Down House is upside down, therefore so should its historical marker!

Markers come and markers go. Our Civil War Category Editor, Craig Swain of Leesburg Virginia recently revisited the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and was surprised to find this handsome panel replacing the simple unadorned one he entered into the database 9 short months ago. Use the link on this marker’s page to see the marker it replaced.

Our Associate Editor Kevin W of Stafford Virginia submitted a set of markers about the Wright brothers’ first powered flight from atop Big Kill Devil hill in 1903. It was one of those singular feats that changed the world.

Our correspondent Andrew Ruppenstein from Sacramento California has been visiting Hawaii and illustrates this marker with this stunning photograph, complete with a rainbow.

Is there a better way to recount the accomplishments of a comic strip artist than with comic strip 50 feet wide? This mural was created by a local artist, Leo Strawn, Jr., for the Public Library in Lancaster Ohio. It economically states—in 13 words plus two images—that Richard Outcault created the first newspaper comic strip (in 1895) and that he created Buster Brown (in 1902).

Here is a marker that you can’t drive to. It in the middle of the ocean 70 miles from the nearest road. Our correspondent R.E. Smith from Nashville had to get to Loggerhead Key by boat to take its picture. It commemorates a seafaring zoologist from the turn of the 20th century. Alfred Mayor was an early ecologist and marine biologist who founded the Tortugas Laboratory, the first tropical marine station in America.

Tooting their own horn? It doesn’t say who erected this marker, but the last sentence may be a hint. This marker about a jewelry store tells a couple of interesting stories. Our correspondent from Sacramento, Andrew Ruppenstein, found it last week and fleshed out the stories.

“The Dry Capital of the World” is the subtitle of this marker about the Anti-Saloon League and Prohibition. From this town a grassroots propaganda machine succeeded in modifying the Constitution of the Unites States in 1919, making alcoholic beverages illegal. This was the only amendment to the Constitution that has ever been repealed, in 1933. This marker carefully avoids discussing the controversy. Westerville lost its bragging rights in 2004 when it granted a liquor license to the Old Bag of Nails pub.

Does this bent tin sign bolted to a wooden pole qualify for inclusion into this database? It is permanent, it is outdoors, and it speaks of history; so yes, it qualifies. One of our correspondent from Sacramento, Andrew Ruppenstein, found it and illustrated it with bright and detailed photographs.

Happy Birthday America! From a jocular response in 1812, the nickname for the United States government was born. Uncle Sam was a real person, Samuel Wilson, and Howard Ohlhous, our correspondent from Duanesburg New York, tells us all about it in words and photographs illustrating this rusty 45 year old marker. Uncle Sam lived in this house in Troy. Howard reports that the State of New York pulled Uncle Sam’s house down on USA’s bicentennial year, 1976. They’re having second thoughts now.

Our correspondent from Fredericksburg Virginia, Dawn Bowen, is traveling across North America again, taking pictures. Last summer she swept through Utah and Nevada adding hundreds of markers with glorious photographs to the database. This is her first entry this summer, and it is also the database’s first marker from Manitoba and the database’s first marker with Ukrainian text. Luckily for many of us, it is also in English.

This marker quotes legend for the name of this area of Paramus. It is a historical marker or a “legendical” marker? It was submitted by Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. No matter what kind of a marker it is, it's interesting.

Speaking of handsome markers, here is another one marking the location of a historic 1848 convention. It was submitted by Bryan Olson of Syracuse, New York. This convention demanded suffrage (the right to vote) for women. They would not get it for another 72 years. Who is the woman on the marker? Perhaps it is “everywoman” or perhaps it is Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who wrote the Declaration of Sentiments for this convention.

Handsome photos of a handsome 1872 railroad station illustrate this entry submitted by our newest Contributing Editor Bill Coughlin of North Arlington, New Jersey. Passenger trains ran on this line for more than 100 years, serving mostly commuters to New York City.

This is the first of many markers that plot the course of Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 train trip to assume the Presidency of the United States. It was submitted by our correspondent from Springfield, Angie Shaffer. Al Wolf, our correspondent from Veedersburg Indiana, added a very informative essay and period photographs. Lincoln traveled from here for 12 days across to New York and down to Washington, stopping often and giving numerous speeches. There should be plenty of markers along the route that have not yet been added to the database. Have you seen one?

Here is a marker about two wrought-iron fences submitted by our editor from Baltimore, Christopher Busta-Peck. The 1935 fence was designed to keep out jackrabbits. The 2002 fence behind it keeps out terrorists. The marker boasts a 100% success rate in thwarting terrorists. No mention is made of the success rate with jackrabbits.

“America’s first feminist” preserved Lord Baltimore’s authority over the colony and put down a Protestant rebellion that threatened Maryland’s policy of religious toleration. But the Assembly did not give her vote or voice. Tom Fuchs, our Contributing Editor from Greenbelt Maryland, found this marker in a gazebo overlooking the St. Mary’s River. The marker depicts Mrs. Brent facing the Assemblymen demanding her vote.

This marker comes complete with a flying saucer. “For a brief time [in 1938] as many as one million people throughout the country believed that Martians had invaded the Earth” because of an entertainment program broadcast nationwide that sounded like a real newscast. The landing site is only 35 miles west of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, where our correspondent R.C. lives.

In its first 21 years, this gun was French, then British, French again, British, American, British, and again American. Since its last capture, it’s been American without interruption for 228 years. Bill Coughlin, our correspondent from North Arlington, New Jersey, found it in front of the Union County courthouse behind this 1905 marker that explains all. It was cast in France in 1758 for the defense of Quebec and was used by both sides during the U.S. Revolutionary War.

Here is a marker that describes history pictorially. Julie Szabo, our correspondent from Oldsmar Florida found it commemorating the celebration in 1852 of the acquisition by the U.S. of more land from Mexico, this time by payment rather than by war. The artwork is by A. J. Fountain Jr. Go to the marker page and click on the photo to see it in detail.

Here’s a baseball marker just in time for baseball season. This one commemorates the first officially recorded baseball match at Elysian Fields in 1846. New Jersey also boasts the first professional basketball game on a marker in Trenton. Sports markers are rare. There are just a few of them in this database’s Sports category, and you can count the ones about baseball in one hand. Our correspondent R.C. from Shrewsbury in New Jersey submitted this one last week.

Did you ever eat Nuto, the “strictly vegetarian” meat substitute sold in health food stores through the 1970’s? I never had the pleasure. It was canned in this building, a health food factory opened in 1921 by Jethro Kloss, author of the 1939 herbal therapy guide Back to Eden. Persons unknown erected this marker and Kevin W, our editor in Stafford Virginia found it. I didn’t know about Nuto until correspondent Michael Miller of Washington DC came across the marker’s web page and sent in a scan of the label. —J. J. Prats

Historical markers are everywhere. Here’s an easy-to-miss 6 by 10 inch brass plaque commemorating the location of what is reputed to be the first umbrella factory in the United States. Can you spot it to the right of the metal door of this nondescript shuttered storefront on a side street in Baltimore? Christopher Busta-Peck, our editor from Baltimore, spotted it and added it to the database.

It’s not just the gorgeous snow-and-blue-sky photos, it is also the way our correspondent Howard Ohlhous from Duanesburg New York fleshes out the story hinted at by the marker. Official New York State historical markers are very concise and our correspondent from Duanesburg New York always takes the time to explain why the person, building, or site commemorated by a marker is historic and deserving of commemoration.

This is Craig Swain’s 1000th marker, added last week. It is one of the hundreds of markers around the Antietam Civil War battlefield that he’s been meticulously cataloguing this winter. Squint at this photo and you’ll see five. Craig has added more markers to the database than anyone else, and every one of them is profusely annotated. He is our Category Editor for Civil War markers and every Civil War marker that is submitted to the database crosses his virtual desk. He hails from Leesburg, Virginia.

Arlington County has a series of numbered markers marking the locations of forts and batteries in Arlington that protected Washington during the Civil War. An anonymous contributor recently added them to the database and this is stop 13. Our Civil War Category Editor, Craig Swain of Leesburg VA, rounded up these and other markers in Virginia, Maryland and DC into the Defenses of Washington marker series. This series illustrates the power of this database to automatically map a collection of markers. Go to the series, click on the Click to Map link, and take a look. Be sure to switch to Satellite mode and zoom in. This week’s Marker of the Week is all 40 markers in this series. Next time you are visiting our Nation’s Capital, print out this map and take the tour.

In 1935 the contest was held 4 blocks west and Lawrence Pitzer didn’t win. That’s about all this tablet says. But Al Wolf, our correspondent from nearby Veedersburg, Indiana, added a short essay about corn husking—it was the only way to harvest corn until the mechanical corn picker—and about the contest, which was broadcast live on national radio. I suspect the “bang board” that deflected the cobs of corn into the wagon made a great sound, perfect for radio. Finally, Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia, turns the page into a multimedia presentation by adding a link to a color movie of the 1941 contest, the last one ever held. This page will keep you engrossed for a while.

From the marker text itself, there is no way to know that this boarding school for wards of the state was beloved by many of its students. The marker’s web page makes the link. Our correspondent R.E. Smith from Chattanooga Tennessee submitted this marker on February 2nd. Associate Editor Kevin W. published it and added a link to the school’s alumni website and a want list for photos of the school. Two days later Christine Haven of Houston Texas, a former student and today webmaster of a website dedicated to the boys and girls of the former Bonny Oaks School, filled in the blanks.

This tiny image does not do justice to the handsome photos that illustrate this page, which tells the story of horticulture advancements in Texas in the 1880’s. The accompanying comments by our correspondent Samuel Collins III of Hitchcock tell two more stories. One is the story of how Mr. Stringfellow paid his workers—many of which were African Americans—a fair wage. The other is the present day story of how the community came together to restore, preserve, and reuse this significant landmark.

At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers is Harpers Ferry. Rich in commercial and military history, it also offers breathtaking views from the surrounding hillsides. Craig Swain from Leesburg, VA, hiked to the top of Maryland Heights to contribute a magnificent series of markers in the area. Use the Related Markers link on this page to see what there is to explore at Harpers Ferry.

Everyone knows who Robert E. Lee was: he was the most celebrated general of the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. But did you know he was an engineer first? This marker, submitted by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina, commemorates his 1837 to 1841 work with the Mississippi River at St. Louis harbor.

Excluding war memorials, World War II historical markers on continental U.S.A. are relatively rare because the war itself, with few exceptions, did not reach the continent. Here is an exception. This marker commemorates the Filipino mess boy and others who died in the 1942 sinking of a U.S. Merchant Marine tanker off Cape Fear by a German U-boat.

Does a historical marker have to be stuck on a pole or made out of metal? No. All it has to do is tell facts or a story (and, to be included in this database, be outdoors and be permanent). Here is a mural as a historical marker. And what a story it tells! William Pfingsten—our correspondent from Bel Air, Maryland—found it on the side of a building.

Next time you find yourself in Trenton, follow in George Washington’s footsteps by following this series of twelve 93 year old markers that mark his soldiers’ 1777 midnight march to Princeton and victory against the British. Our Trenton correspondent Gary Nigh found them all and you can too. Use the Virtual Tour link on its page to bring up the HMDB map available on the link on that page. They did it on foot, but you’ll need a car.

Here is a winter scene to ring out the holiday season, taken—in June!—by Michael Stroud, our correspondent from Bluffton, South Carolina. Can you guess the name of the mountain? This marker is currently the northernmost in our database, marking the spot where in 1923 President Harding drove the golden spike on the completion of the Alaska Railroad.

This is one the banks that the Dalton Gang attempted to rob that famous day 1892 when the U.S. Marshal and residents of Coffeyville stopped them in a tremendous firefight. The Marshal and three citizens were killed. Michael Stroud, our correspondent from Bluffton, South Carolina, does a great job of fleshing out the story only hinted at by a fourteen word marker.

It was hard to single out one marker to illustrate the collection of historic building and house markers that Keith Peterson, our correspondent from Cedar Park Texas has been methodically adding to the database. Use this one to take virtual walking tour of Georgetown, just north of Austin, by browsing through the markers Keith Peterson has documented.

Did you know that windmills were once used to grind grain? Where falling water was not available for the more typical waterwheel mills, they did the job. In the 19th century, steam power made them obsolete. Our correspondent F. Robby found this one on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Our Pasadena Maryland contributor F. Robby documented the death of a marker by submitting this photograph showing the marker lying on the ground, felled by the tree it was commemorating. Maryland’s venerable Wye Oak came down in 2002 and took the marker with it. The stump remains on display, the marker is history.

Sports markers are rare. There are only a handful in this database. Gary Nigh, contributing correspondent from Trenton New Jersey, just submitted this one commemorating Fred Cooper, captain of the Trenton Trentons in 1896, along with a photo of the original venue.

The inscription is short, but the story that Al Wolf—our contributing correspondent in Veedersburg Indiana—tells is fascinating. He writes, “not one word of this is made up. Even this morning at the Cafe people still remembered the details.” Check it out.

Contributor Tom Fuchs from Greenbelt Maryland has assembled an very interesting and very well illustrated series of markers about the Glen Echo Amusement Park just outside of Washington D.C., one of the oldest in the country. This former trolley park is now a National Park Service park. Use the Related Markers link on any of the pages for a handy list of all eleven markers.

Beverly Pfingsten can go into the postcard business with this picture-perfect photograph from Maryland’s Eastern Shore submitted by our correspondent from Bel Air Maryland, William Pfingsten.

George Washington’s doctor lived here and boated over to Mount Vernon in Virginia 200 years ago faster than we can drive between the two points today. During the Civil War, the house belonged to a Confederate secret agent. Two markers mark the spot. Check out both marker pages, one of which has the larger version of the photo you see here, and marvel at the delicate spring colors that our Alexandria Virginia correspondent Roger Dean Meyer managed to capture with his camera.

A man-made hole in the ground more than five square miles wide and 600 feet deep is maked by a Minnesota Historical Society marker submitted by our correspondent from Wisconsin Rapids Wisconsin. Read all about it and check out Keith L.’s spendid photographs.

Here’s a marker with no text save title and date. The picture visually describes what is happening. Who won’t immediately recognize Abraham Lincoln from his stove-pipe hat. Notice the action depicted around him. Our correspondent Steve Fernie from Arlington Virginia submitted this marker.

This marker declares Roland Park’s Tudor-style shopping center dating back to the 1890s to be the oldest shopping center in America. Our correspondent from Bell Air Maryland, William Pfingsten, submitted it and reports that the center is still Tudor and still full of shops. Roland Park was a streetcar (trolley) suburb, now part of the City of Baltimore. On this page are photos of some of the fine houses there.

“This is a beautiful place,” wrote Corporal Newton T. Hartshorn of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1863. This photo by Kevin W. of Stafford Virginia proves that Occoquan still is a beautiful place 144 years later. Dropping into Occoquan from the suburbia that surrounds it is like escaping into an earlier time. Don’t forget to stop next time you’re in the area. It’s infested with markers.

While the beautiful day didn’t hurt, you can tell that a good photographer is at work here based on the sharp, bright photos that Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt Maryland took to illustrate this page and those of other nearby markers about the B&O Railroad in Martinsburg. Railroad history is hard to find on markers, but the Baltimore & Ohio is an exception since it is tied to early railroad innovation, western settlement, and the Civil War. It has its own marker series in this database.

Northridge California correspondent Thomas O’Connor’s first submission includes photos of this rusty metal wheel. In 1868 Samuel Knight came up with the first device that captured close to 100% of rushing water’s kinetic energy: the Impulse Turbine. A jet of water precisely directed at closely-spaced small metal buckets around the wheel—they look like gear teeth at first glance—turns the wheel in the most efficient way possible. The Knight Wheel principle continues in use today for hydroelectric power generation.

It’s easy to miss the gorgeous photographs of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir behind the dam because of the very boring photos of the brass plaques that precede them. Unfortunately this is a marker database so the boring sometimes has to come first. Please scroll down to see all of the photos by Karen Key, our Sacramento California correspondent. Well worth the wait as they arrive one by one from the server. This one is of Wapama Falls.

This well-researched and profusely illustrated and commented page by Craig Swain of Leesburg Virginia features a marker commemorating a Cold War missile site that protected Washington DC from the possibility of an attack by Soviet aircraft. In the “duck and cover” 1950s and ’60s it was a secret, well-guarded location 19 miles from the Capitol. Today it is a suburban neighborhood park with baseball and soccer fields in sight of this abandoned observation tower.

Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg Virginia discovers another fascinating marker, this one written in verse. The poem, by Gertrude Claytor, tells the story of Colonial Governor Alexander Spotswood’s 1716 exploration of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley. Right next to it is the database’s first marker titled in a foreign language—Latin. That marker’s title is the inscription Governor Spotswood had engraved on horseshoe-shaped golden pins given to some of his fellow explorers, dubbed “Knights of the Golden Horseshoe.”

This marker page is a great example of of the potential of this website to bring together dispersed historical records. Donald Daniel of Forsyth Georgia first submitted this page July 2006. In May 2007 Mark and Maryann Pifer of Columbus Ohio, stumbled across the page while browsing the Internet. Maryann Pifer is a descendant of B. F. Morris, pictured here, who was mentioned on the marker. They submitted photographs and a chapter from a book that has been passed down from generation to generation.

“A Summer Morning on the Potomac.” I'm a sucker for landscapes reflected in still waters, but you have to admit this is a great photo. Craig Swain of Leesburg Virginia provides in-depth commentary and insight for most any marker he submits, and this entry is no exception. Follow the Civil War in Northern Virginia and Maryland through his marker pages and you will always learn something new.

In addition to telling the story of the Pony Express, this marker—submitted by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg Virginia—discusses the life-size Avard Fairbanks sculpture that is directly in front of it. The page includes first-person quotes from Pony Express riders.

Photos of a Soo Line steam locomotive illustrate this marker submitted by our correspondent from Wisconsin Rapids, Keith L. This page is has 10 bright and detailed photographs of the marker, depot, Locomotive 2713 and Caboose 158.

This thumbnail does not do justice to the beautiful photograph that Karen Key of Sacramento California submitted for this marker’s page. Go to the page to see it in its full glory. Karen captured the lake in October. On the same page is Nina Sunseri’s photo of Convict Lake in January, with skaters enjoying its glass-like frozen surface.

Ugly marker, handsome house. Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt Maryland submitted this excellent photo of “Edgewood,” the Berkeley County house mentioned on this marker. The marker itself is a monument located roadside at the driveway to Edgewood, consisting of a 15 foot column with its capital topped by a pyramid of cannon balls.

Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg Virginia submitted this marker—a large bronze tablet with intricate bas-relief artwork. This image is a close-up of one of the muses on the marker; go to the marker page to view this work of art in its entirety. It is signed “Mahonri 1940” indicating that this marker may have been created by the notable 20th century Salt Lake City painter and sculptor Mahonri Young. Follow Link 2 on the marker page to see photos of other works by the artist and I think you’ll agree that the connection is plausible.

William Pfingsten of Bell Air Maryland recently submitted this facinating photo of a topiary fox hunt. Take a look at the full size photo on the marker page to better see the hunter in a bowler hat astride a horse jumping over a fence just behind the pack of dogs.