The Michigan Historical Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) have instituted the following application process for Michigan Historical Markers.

1.   The State Register of Historic Sites is the foundation for the historical marker program. Only sites to be identified with historical markers will be listed in the state register.

2.   The application process for historical markers is as follows:

The applicant must:

• Complete a Michigan Historical Marker Application and submit it with primary source documents, such as tax records, deeds, newspaper articles, and meeting minutes, which substantiate the historical information in the application. In addition, the applicant can provide photocopies of secondary sources such as published county and community histories. The photocopies must include citations: the title, author, date of publication, publisher, and page numbers. All information in the application narrative and all facts that appear on the marker must be documented. Photocopies of all documentation must be submitted with the application.

• Submit black and white photographs of the interior and exterior of the structure. (See Photographic Guidelines.)

• Provide a map showing the location of the site and indicating main crossroads.

• Provide a list of facts you feel are important to include in the marker text.

• In addition to the application materials, a $250 deposit is required. This is an administrative fee that will be put into a fund to pay for the maintenance of Michigan Historical Markers. If the site does not meet the criteria, the deposit will be promptly refunded, otherwise the deposit is nonrefundable. The check must be made payable to the "State of Michigan." Please note: The application will be returned if it is not accompanied by the deposit.

• The SHPO staff will evaluate the site in terms of the established criteria. If the site meets the criteria, the staff will write a text for the marker and send it to the applicant for their review. Once the text is accepted by the applicant, it will be presented to the Michigan Historical Commission. The Michigan Historical Commission determines the final wording of the marker.

• Upon commission approval of the marker text, the site is listed in the state register and a site number is assigned. A notification letter is sent to the applicant.

• The applicant submits a check for the cost of the marker and the SHPO orders the marker.

• The applicant plans the dedication ceremony and notifies the SHPO of the date. The SHPO schedules a member of the Michigan Historical Commission to present the marker.

PLEASE NOTE: This process typically takes one year to complete. Guarantees for specific dedication dates cannot be made at this time.

3.   Identification plaques are available only to previously designated state register sites.

4.   Commemorative markers for historic districts will only be granted for national register listed districts.

Criteria, which outline the requirements for historical integrity and historic significance, have been adopted by the Michigan Historical Commission in order to determine which properties are worthy of historical markers.

When granted a historical marker, the sponsor may wish to inform the appropriate state and local government officials, local historical societies and local media that a marker is being erected. The sponsor is responsible for installing the marker and planning the dedication ceremony. Instructions for erecting the marker and recommendations for the ceremony are available from the SHPO.

Three different types of markers are available. All post-mounted markers must have text on both sides, which can be either different or the same. Please consult the price list for the current marker prices.

To begin the historical marker application process, please download the application or contact:

State Historic Preservation Office
Michigan Historical Center
P. O. Box 30740
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48909-8240
(517) 373-1630
mcgonaglek@michigan.gov