MARKER HISTORY
The historic marker program is overseen by the Oregon Travel Information Council (OTIC), a semi-independent agency managed by the state of Oregon. We analyzed the markers included on its webpage as of September 2020, but it’s worth noting that how history is commemorated constantly changes. Some of the markers we analyzed are no longer there or have been changed since our study.
Although OTIC has managed these programs since 1991, efforts to memorialize Oregon’s past, especially the Oregon Trail, extend back over a century. Oregon’s first highway markers emerged in the late 1800s, centering on the Oregon Trail. Local historical groups and individuals such as Ezra Meeker, who traveled the Trail by horse marking it with granite pillars, started the process. By 1898 local historical societies wanted a more official recognition of preserving the state's history, and thus the Oregon Historical Society was established. Over time, development of historical markers shifted from highly localized efforts towards greater state involvement through the state historical society, highway commission, and eventually the OTIC. The significance and popularity of historical markers took a leap with the onset of the automobile. Development of Oregon’s infrastructure, including the formation of the Oregon Highway Roads Commission (1917) and the “Get Oregon Out of the Mud” campaign (1919), served to promote tourism. Central to Oregon’s tourism were parks, picnic facilities, campsites, and the attendant historical markers.
By the 1930s the Federal government also began investing in historical sites. The Historic Sites Act of 1935 allocated federal funds for preservation and established public and private partnerships for their maintenance. Such coordination was precisely what the Oregon State Highway Commission needed. This was soon followed by Oregon’s 100th birthday in 1959. For the occasion, Oregon began producing “Beaver Boards,” the iconic historical markers dotting major highways. Made from Port Orford cedar, these markers have endured, despite the effects of weathering from snow, rain and wind.
Although OTIC has managed these programs since 1991, efforts to memorialize Oregon’s past, especially the Oregon Trail, extend back over a century. Oregon’s first highway markers emerged in the late 1800s, centering on the Oregon Trail. Local historical groups and individuals such as Ezra Meeker, who traveled the Trail by horse marking it with granite pillars, started the process. By 1898 local historical societies wanted a more official recognition of preserving the state's history, and thus the Oregon Historical Society was established. Over time, development of historical markers shifted from highly localized efforts towards greater state involvement through the state historical society, highway commission, and eventually the OTIC. The significance and popularity of historical markers took a leap with the onset of the automobile. Development of Oregon’s infrastructure, including the formation of the Oregon Highway Roads Commission (1917) and the “Get Oregon Out of the Mud” campaign (1919), served to promote tourism. Central to Oregon’s tourism were parks, picnic facilities, campsites, and the attendant historical markers.
By the 1930s the Federal government also began investing in historical sites. The Historic Sites Act of 1935 allocated federal funds for preservation and established public and private partnerships for their maintenance. Such coordination was precisely what the Oregon State Highway Commission needed. This was soon followed by Oregon’s 100th birthday in 1959. For the occasion, Oregon began producing “Beaver Boards,” the iconic historical markers dotting major highways. Made from Port Orford cedar, these markers have endured, despite the effects of weathering from snow, rain and wind.
Currently, the Historical Marker Committee of the OTIC oversees the markers and the application process. The committee currently consists of ten government appointees representing the six congressional districts and one representative from the Oregon Transportation Commission. The process to establish a historical marker is available on the OTIC website and proposals are evaluated based on the following criteria: persons, events, places, and geologic features. A sponsor must cover the marker fees, which range from $3500 to $7300, depending on the size of the marker and material. The OTIC maintains the markers, coordinates expenses, and ensures they become state property. After establishment, the program relies heavily on local volunteer labor to maintain and preserve historical markers.
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