HISTORIC

Marker Subjects and Text

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The Historic Chattahoochee Commission (HCC) Marker Committee will have the authority to accept or reject subjects that co-sponsors have proposed to commemorate via a marker.

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The HCC Marker Committee will approve the narrative text for all historic markers following the policy of the Georgia Parks and Historic Sites Division D.N.R. (see below), as revised for use in both Alabama and Georgia.  This policy outlines qualifications that individuals, buildings, events, and places must meet to be eligible for a historical marker.

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The co-sponsor is responsible for providing well-researched marker text, written in a straightforward style.  The individual, building, event, or place commemorated on the marker must appear in at least one authoritative historical work of general circulation.  Co-sponsors must supply copies of supporting documentation for the marker to the HCC.

 

Markers should not editorialize or pass judgments.

 

The marker title should be an integral part of the message.

 

Co-sponsors must submit typed and correctly punctuated copy. Should the co-sponsoring organization back out of a proposed marker once the HCC designee has sent the text to the HCC Marker Committee for review, the HCC will retain $100 of the marker cost for administrative fees.

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Marker Design

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Each marker will carry the HCC logo, the date of the marker's installation, and text indicating that the HCC and co-sponsor jointly erected it.

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The HCC's designee will handle all administrative details relating to the marker program. These duties will include editing the marker texts, ordering the markers, and arranging for delivery of the finished plaques and posts. The marker manufacturer will ship markers directly to the co-sponsoring organization for storage prior to installation.  The co-sponsor is responsible for erecting the historic marker.

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All body text will be in 1 inch or 5/8 inch letters. The marker heading will be in 2" letters. Assuming a single line caption, the lettering capacity for each marker (using 1 inch body text) is 14 lines of 43 to 45 spaces per line. This estimate will vary depending on the width of letters.  Also, spaces between words are counted as a letter space, but punctuation is not. Provision is made for normal signature lines.

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If an error is found on a marker after it is cast, and if this error is the fault of the co-sponsoring organization, then the co-sponsor must pay for the necessary correction. This is not optional. Corrections must and will be made. The marker company guarantees its work and will replace or correct a marker if an error is made by them. The HCC will not be held responsible for any errors that are found on a marker.

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Costs and Payment  [Note: These prices are subject to change without notice]

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Marker costs for 2017 are as follows:

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***There is a $100 administrative fee added to the cost of each marker processed***

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1" letters

$2110 - same text on both sides

$2420 - different text on both sides

$75/per picture

(unless the same picture is used on both sides, then the duplicate only costs $50, for a total of $125) Different pictures on each side will cost $150.

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5/8" letters

$2340 - same text on both sides

$2680 - different text on both sides

$75/per picture

(unless the same picture is used on both sides, then the duplicate only costs $50, for a total of $125) Different pictures on each side will cost $150.

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***Full payment by the co-sponsor of all marker costs must accompany submission of proposed marker text.***

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Public Access

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Owners of the property that hosts the marker should authorize placement in writing. The co-sponsor must supply a copy of this agreement to the HCC.

 

A primary objective of placing historic markers is to inform and to assist in visiting the place marked. Therefore, when siting markers, co-sponsors should carefully consider the distance from the marker to object.  Unfortunately, incidents of vandalism have increased, so co-sponsors should consider the remoteness of the marker location.

 

Markers must not be traffic hazard, and ideally, there should be a turn-out and parking at each marker.

 

Dedication Ceremony

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Marker co-sponsors must agree to hold a dedication ceremony once they have installed the marker. The HCC encourages co-sponsors to invite area legislators, county commissioners and other dignitaries to the unveiling ceremony.

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Vandalism/Refinishing

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If an installed marker is vandalized, the co-sponsor is responsible for effecting any required repairs, including replacement. The co-sponsor likewise is responsible for refinishing a marker, should it need to be cleaned and repainted.

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CONTACT PERSON for the HCC Historical Marker program is Justin Kreig at the Historic Columbus Foundation. Email: justin@historiccolumbus.com . Phone: 706-322-0756.

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POLICY OF PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES DIVISION D.N.R.,

WITH REFERENCE TO THE QUALIFICATIONS OF PERSONS, EVENTS AND PLACES TO BE COMMEMORATED BY HISTORICAL MARKERS

AS REVISED FOR USE IN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA BY THE HISTORIC CHATTAHOOCHEE COMMISSION

 

Historical Markers should be erected only to mark definite sites, with two exceptions:

1. County markers giving history of county, to be located where local authorities, in co-operation with local patriotic organizations and marker co-sponsors, shall determine.

2. Area markers located at rest areas or welcome centers.

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I.  Markers should commemorate INDIVIDUALS only if they meet these criteria:

• They have been dead at least 20 years or a sufficient time for their true stature and the permanent nature of their services and accomplishments to be placed in accurate historical perspective,

• AND that they have attained such distinction that they are mentioned in at least one authoritative historical work of general circulation,

• AND that there exists in the State of Alabama or Georgia a place where such people either:

  • Were born

  • Died, if death was directly connected with their fame;

  • Lived for a substantial period of time as their permanent residences; or

  • Performed some act connected with their fame.

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II.  Markers should commemorate EVENTS only if they meet these criteria:

• Occurred within the State of Alabama or Georgia,

• AND are located within one mile of a paved highway,

• AND are mentioned in at least one authoritative historical work,

• AND were either:

  • A military operation, including skirmishes with or massacres by Indians;

  • A meeting of persons the results of which were of lasting historical importance;

  • The creation of a work of art or literature or of a formerly unknown mechanical device, which has been of lasting inspiration or benefit to society; or

  • An act of such historic importance as to have changed the course of history of either state.

 

III.  Markers should commemorate BUILDINGS only if they meet these criteria:

• Are still in existence, in whole or in part,

• AND are within one mile of a paved highway,

• AND in which, or in a portion of which. either:

  • One of the individuals described under Section I, above, was born or lived as in for a substantial period of time, or performed some act connected with his fame,

  • OR there occurred an event described under Section II, above.

 

IV.  Markers should commemorate PLACES only if they meet these criteria:

• They are within one mile of a paved highway,

• AND they are the site of an event described under Section II above,

• OR that have special historic interest by reason of being the first of what later became an institution of general use and acceptance in the field of human relations,

• OR are associated with aboriginal cultures or historical events in the Cherokee, Creek, or Uchee Nations,

• OR are authoritatively identified with Spanish exploration or occupation.

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