Historical
Marker Program
The Sarasota County
Historical Commission erects markers around the county to
identify events, people, and places that are significant in
the history of Sarasota County. You are invited to tour the
county’s history via the markers by selecting from the
following.
List of markers and their locations
Photos of selected markers
The Sarasota County Historical
Commission erects
markers around the county to identify events,
people, and places that are significant in the history of
Sarasota County. The Marker Committee of the Historical
Commission receives proposals from the community for historical
markers. After the commission accepts a proposal, the committee
works with the proposal to create an historical narrative about
the proposed subject. Once the commission approves the
narrative, the committee oversees the drafting of the marker
text. After Historical Commission approval of the text, the
marker is ordered.
Policies
and Procedures
In 1976, the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners
authorized the Historical Commission to establish a program that
identifies, by placement of a marker, historically significant
sites throughout the county. The mission of the Sarasota County
Historical Commission’s Historical Marker Program is to
recognize historic resources, persons, and events that are
significant in the areas of archaeology, architecture,
traditional culture, and local, regional, state, and national
history by promoting and facilitating the placement of markers
at or near sites of historical significance in Sarasota County.
Criteria
for Commemoration:
- The county historical marker program commemorates facts,
persons, events, and places prominently identified with the
history and culture of the county, region, state, and /or
nation.
- Eligibility requires that the resource be at least 30 years old,
or the associated event have occurred at least 30 years ago. The
Historical Commission may waive the 30-year time period
requirement in the event of exceptional historical significance
and with a 2/3 vote in support of the time period waiver.
- The Historical Commission will not erect a marker commemorating
any individual who is still living.
The
Application and Review Process:
- Any interested individual or group may submit an application for
the placement of a historical marker by completing the Marker
Request Form and returning it to the Sarasota County History
Center, 701 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236.
- Upon receipt of the Marker Request Form, the Historical
Commission’s Marker Committee and History Center staff will
review the form and determine whether or not to take on the
project.
- If approved, the project will be assigned to a Marker committee
member who will work with the proposer to research and draft the
marker narrative.
- After any necessary revision, the Marker Committee will
recommend to the Historical Commission the approval of the
narrative.
- Upon approval, a member of the Marker Committee or someone
designated by that group will draft the marker text.
- After any necessary revisions, the Marker Committee will
recommend to the Historical Commission the approval of the text.
- Upon approval, the marker will be ordered and installed, usually
followed by a public dedication ceremony.
Marker
Location:
- Historical markers shall be erected in safe locations, at or
close to the places being commemorated, and where they will be
visible for the traveling public.
- If the site of a commemorated event or individual is located on
private property, the Historical Commission may enter into an
agreement with the property owner that will allow for the
placement and the accessibility of the marker for the public.
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