Texas Historical Markers 2000 Survey
The historical marker data in the Atlas was compiled between 1996 and 1998 during a survey conducted by the Historical Markers 2000 Project. The goal of this project was to assess the condition of historical markers approved by the state, and to create a database recording the locations and duplicating the explanatory texts (where applicable) of more than 11,000 markers state-wide. These markers commemorate a wide variety of historic personalities, events, and places, including homes, commercial buildings, post offices, churches, schools, jails, courthouses, cemeteries, battle sites, and trails and passes. The data is now maintained by the staff of the Texas Historical Commission's State Historical Marker Program.
What will I find?
Documents for each marker include marker number, county, title of marker, location, size of marker, city, description of marker base/attachment, marker date, subject codes assigned by the Texas Historical Commission, indication of Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) status, RTHL condition, marker condition, repairs recommended for marker, UTM coordinates, form date, recorder's name, and marker text (where applicable). The Atlas displays only the marker title, county, city, location, and inscription when the "Summary" data format is selected; to see all data, you must choose a "Full Record" search.
How can I use it?
The contents of this survey are especially useful to elementary teachers or secondary history teachers in planning field trips or informing students about local sites of interest. Travelers wanting to investigate historic sites along the way might also benefit greatly from the information provided here. Texas' historical markers commemorate such a wide variety of people, places, and events that everyone will find something of interest here, whether it's the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe "Madam Queen" locomotive in Amarillo or the Archer Co. campsite along the trail of the Comanche exodus from Texas to Oklahoma.
What else should I know?
The Atlas mapping system indicates historical marker locations with a green dot. Click on the dot next to the site name on the Search Results list or view the county map by clicking on the county name at the top of Search Results list.
Some sites are designated with a medallion only, rather than the more typical posted marker with explanatory text. Since this explanatory text is one of the more informative features recorded in this survey, those sites lacking text will be less beneficial to the user.