Arkansas Historical Marker Program Grants
Apply For A Historical Marker
General Marker Criteria
- In order for a historic person, place or event to be eligible for marker commemoration, the significance must have been attained at least 50 years ago. At the discretion of the Historical Marker Program Review Committee, there may be exceptions if the person, place or event is of extraordinary historical significance.
- No living person shall be commemorated.
- Markers must be sponsored by organizations (civic groups, cities, chambers of commerce, historical societies, churches, museums, etc.). Individuals, including private property owners wishing to commemorate an event or person pertaining to their land, may not sponsor a marker alone, but they may cosponsor a marker together with an organization. A marker may have multiple organizational and individual sponsors.
- The application must go through the proper approval process as stated below, with the Historical Marker Program Review Committee having the final approval over marker eligibility and text.
- The marker’s proposed location must be identified with a photograph and a map including cross streets, a north arrow, visitor parking and GPS coordinates if applicable.
- Markers are the property of the State of Arkansas.
- All markers are manufactured by a vendor selected by the Division of Arkansas Heritage. The markers have the approximate dimensions of 42” wide x 30” high with a 7’ post (4’ above ground) and 1” lettering. The markers have a uniform design preselected by the Division of Arkansas Heritage.
- The base cost of the marker will be split 50/50 between the sponsor and the Division of Arkansas Heritage, according to the price in effect at the time the marker is ordered, which may be different from the price at the time of initial application.
- Additionally, the sponsor will pay a one-time maintenance fee in order to supplement future repairs or replacement if the marker is damaged or destroyed. Regular maintenance of the marker, such as cutting the grass around marker, is the responsibility of the sponsor.
- Additional fees for optional marker extras or special shipping service may apply.
- Installation of the marker is the responsibility of the sponsor. The sponsor must have the location approved by the landowner and/or local or county public authorities and gain the proper permits if necessary.
- Please notify the Historical Marker Program Coordinator when planning your dedication ceremony. The Division of Arkansas Heritage will help promote the celebration and, in some cases, may be able to assist with unveiling the marker.
Applicants Must Provide Documented Marker Facts
- Each application must be supported by primary sources such as letters and diaries, deeds, census records, tax records, court records, contemporary newspaper accounts, photographs, etc.
- Primary sources may be supplemented with secondary sources including National Register of Historic Places or Arkansas Register of Historic Places nomination forms, county histories, biographies, reports of cultural resource investigations and archaeological investigations, etc. The Program Review Committee determines if the secondary sources submitted are acceptable.
- Please upload these documents to the application site or mail only
copies of your primary and secondary documents, as these submitted materials
will not be returned. Label each copy with the number of the fact documented
and the complete citation (see citation requirements below). If copies are made
from microfilm, include the roll number in the citation. If you have any
questions regarding documentation or how to cite a source, contact the Historical
Marker Program Coordinator.
Types Of Citations
- Book—author, title, publisher, publisher city and state, date published, page number.
- Newspaper—name of newspaper, name of article, author (if given), date, page number.
- Journal article—name of journal, name of article, author, volume and number, month, year, page number.
- Letter—name of writer and who the letter was written to, date the letter was written, the name of the collection, the name of the college, library, museum, etc. where the collection is located.
- Manuscript—name of the writer/creator, date, the name of the collection, the name of the college, library, museum, etc. where the collection is located.
- Government record—name and type of record (tax, deed, census, etc.), date, book and page number (if applicable), the name of the courthouse, college, library, museum, etc. where the documents are located.
Historical Marker Program
The markers commemorate the past by acknowledging the historically significant people, places and events that have shaped our state and confirm the importance of educating the public about these Arkansas treasures.
Learn MoreApply Online
1) CLICK HERE TO LOG ON
If you have previously created an online account with
Department of Arkansas Heritage for a grant through one of the resource divisions (Arkansas Historic Preservation Program/AHPP or Arkansas Arts Council/AAC or Arkansas State Archives/ASA), do NOT create a new one.
If you have never applied for an online account with any Department of Arkansas Heritage program, click on “Create New Account.” To create a new account, answer the questions with the fields marked with an (*).
The following are NOT needed to apply for a Historical Markers:
a. EIN/Tax ID #
b. DUNS Number
c. Organization’s Longitude
d .Organization’s Latitude
2) ACCESS CODE
Once you have completed the LOGON process, you will enter the ACCESS CODE: AHM
3) APPLY
After you enter the Access Code, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the blue APPLY button.