Plaques & Markers

The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) encourages owners of historic properties to display plaques as a means of recognizing and promoting the State and National Register program, but plaques are neither a requirement of the National Park Service, or DAHP.  Due to budgetary constraints, plaques are not provided by the state at this time.  While the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation does not endorse any manufacturer of plaques, the following names and addresses of foundries are provided as a public service.  These companies are known as experienced producers of National Register plaques.

Note that many National Register plaques use the standard terminology of "This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior".  Often this is supplemented by the historic name of the property and a built date as well as the date of listing.

There are no specific wording or guidelines for plaques or markers for Washington Heritage Register properties.   However if you chose to order a custom plaque we would recommend the following language: "This property has been placed on the Washington Heritage Register by the Governor's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation".

Plaque Companies

Metallic Arts 914 North Lake Road Spokane Valley, WA 99212 800-541-3200 Fax: 509-483-1759 sales@metallicarts.com		Smith Cornell Impressions 567 E. Riverview Ave. Napoleon, OH 43545 800-325-0248 419-599-0900 Fax: 419-599-0999 scornell@earthlink.net
Colonial Brass Co. P.O. Box 511 Middleboro, MA 02346 508-947-1098 Fax: 508-947-1039 colbrass@colonialbrass.com		Custom Home Accessories 9245 Beatty Dr. Sacramento, CA 95826 800-265-0041 916-362-0414 Fax: 916-362-0410 info@mailboxes.info
The Southwell Company P.O. Box 299 San Antonio, TX 78291 210-223-1831 800-950-8068 southwl@texas.net		Healy Plaques 60 New River Rd. Manville, RI 02838 800-995-0988 sales@healyplaques.com
Franklin Bronze Plaques 191 Howard Street Franklin, PA  16323 814-346-7205 Toll Free: 866-405-6623 Fax: 814-346-7047 clinnon@franklinbronzeplaques.com		International Bronze Plaque El Dorado Hills, CA 888-459-5386 Fax: 916-673-3490 sales@internationalbronze.net

Highway Markers

Many communities have markers along the highway which denote the site of a Washington Heritage Register property or a National Register site. These are the infamous "brown signs" along state highways.

DAHP does not regulate these signs.  Requests to have a "brown" historic attraction sign installed in your community should be through the Regional office of State Department of Transportation (DOT).

The DOT office will only consider marking historic attractions if:

• They are included in the Washington Heritage Register, as designated and maintained by the State Historic Preservation Officer; and
• They have been approved by the Heritage Resource Center of the Washington State Historical Society; and
• The attraction also includes one or more of the following features at the site:
  1.  An interpretive center and/or a guided tour
  2.  Visible historic buildings, features, or ruins with an interpretive marker

For further information about Highway Markers see the State Department of Transportation Traffic Manual, Chapter 2, pg 27-28 or call your regional DOT Office.

Heritage Barn Markers

When funding allows, barns that are added to the Washington State Heritage Barn Register receive a free 10" x 24" custom metal plaque.  The plaque, made by the Department of Corrections in Walla Walla, commorates the listing of the barn and allows for a form of public education by displaying the built date of each barn.

For further information about the Historic Register Programs contact Michael Houser, State Architectural Historian at (360) 586-3076 or michael.houser@dahp.wa.gov.