National Historic Marker Day encourages cleaning local markers

MARIETTA, Ohio (WTAP) - Historic markers commemorate local history in towns and cities across the United States.

While these markers may seem like timeless fixtures of our communities, they are as vulnerable to wear and tear as anything left out in the elements. That’s why National Historic Marker Day, recognized on the last Friday of April, encourages people to clean and maintain their local markers

Local historic marker manufacturer Sewah Studios wants our local community to get involved too.

Sewah Studios owner Bradford Smith said historic markers are a conduit to history, and Historic Marker Day is a great time to maintain them.

“If you get out here and clean these things up and do it yearly, you’re not only going to improve the physical look of it at that moment, but you’re going to extend the life of these markers sometimes double or triple their original life expectancy,” Smith said.

National Historic Marker Day was created by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, an organization focused on local history. The foundation offers a volunteer kit on their website that includes instructions for how best to clean markers. Locations for markers in our area can be found at The Historic Marker Database.