Historic Transportation Marker Grant Program
Historic Transportation commemorates the ways in which people and goods were transported historically. Early America was shaped by the challenges of logistics across great distances, and this spurred a variety of technological innovations and extensive infrastructure construction. This program includes early bridges, tunnels, rail cars, depots, engines and stations, ferries, steamships, canals, and aircraft. These historical methods of transportation shaped the world we live in today. Read the Subject Criteria section below for more information about what will qualify.
Historic Transportation markers must recognize a historical fact that occurred prior to 1945. After World War II, the United States saw a significant change in transportation with the increase in automobile ownership and the construction of the interstate highway system. We seek to commemorate the way in which goods and people were transported prior to these transformative events. Please take the time to review the information on this page, as well as on our Historical Marker Criteria, Primary Sources, and FAQ pages in the tabs above before applying. Our requirements and guidelines are detailed on these pages.
Ready to apply? Get started here: Apply for Grant
Eligibility to Apply
This program is open to local, state and federal government entities, nonprofit academic institutions, and 501(c)(3) organizations. Applicants may apply for up to five (5) markers per grant round. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact an eligible local organization, such as a municipal historian or historical society.
Subject Criteria
Subjects that will be successful include:
- Canals, Steamboats, and Ferries– Often considered a precursor to interstate highways, transportation canals helped facilitate the movement of goods and people via water, as did steamboats and ferries. This spurred development of towns and villages along the way, leading to an overall expansion of the nation.
- Bridges and Tunnels– Bridges and tunnels allowed people to overcome natural obstacles such as rivers and mountains, expediting travel. If a bridge has been rebuilt or restored after 1945, components of the original structure must still be extant.
- Railroads– Existing railroad structures such as depots, stations, rail cars, and engines will be considered. Trolleys and interurbans are included in this category. Applications for former railbeds that lack an existing structure will not be accepted for this marker program.
- Aircraft– Existing airfields, hangers, planes and other aircraft will be considered. Use for transportation of goods or people must be proven.
In addition:
- The subject must have been built prior to 1945.
- The subject must be historically significant to the larger community or beyond.
- There must be an extant site or structure. Structures must be publicly accessible for viewing.
What will not be successful?
- Structures that no longer exist or are slated for removal.
- Historical roadways, such as plank roads, are not included- please apply for these through Hometown Heritage or NYS Historic.
- Markers that focus on an event, and not a method of transportation, will not be successful. For example, a steamboat dock itself will qualify, but a steamboat crash or sinking will not. Events can be commemorated through Hometown Heritage or NYS Historic, however.
- Markers commemorating inventors and business owners should go through Hometown Heritage and NYS Historic.
Marker Design and Text
The colors of the markers are blue with white lettering and a black border. Markers are 18” x 32” cast aluminum with a 7’ aluminum pole. The title line allows 15 characters, and the five body lines can have 27 characters each, including spaces and punctuation. There is a required Pomeroy Foundation credit line at the bottom of the marker which is always included. Each marker will also be numbered according to its place in the Historic Transportation series.
Please see our Marker Criteria page for more information, as well as a helpful guide.
Historical Accuracy
Primary source documentation is required to verify historical accuracy. The applying agency is responsible for providing images/scans of sources and specific statements used to verify historical facts. Lists of links alone will not be accepted. If the William G. Pomeroy Foundation cannot substantiate the historical accuracy based on the supporting documentation provided, the application will not be successful.
Please see our Primary Sources page for more information, as well as a helpful guide.
Marker Placement
Please carefully consider the location where the marker is to be installed.
- Markers should not be placed on high-traffic roadways or roadways where vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed if there is no place for a vehicle to safely pull over out of traffic.
- Markers should not be placed where the visitor must intrude on private property to read it or view a site related to the marker inscription.
- Before installing your marker, please be sure you are following all of your state guidelines around digging and excavation.
For more information about marker location requirements, see our Marker Criteria page.
Application Procedure
We only offer an online application. The grant application has two parts: The Letter of Intent (LOI) and the application. The LOI is a required first step and allows Foundation staff to determine if additional primary sources are required and if the proposed marker text fits our criteria before the applicant completes a full grant application. Typically, LOIs are responded to within one week. You cannot access the full application until the LOI is approved.
LOIs must include the following:
- A list of primary source citations
- A proposed inscription for the marker
Applications must include the following:
- A proposed installation location with specific details (including GPS coordinates and an optional photo upload)
- A brief description and explanation of the historical significance of what is being commemorated
- A proposed inscription for marker
- A letter from the landowner granting permission for the marker to be installed on their property
- Primary source documents verifying the proposed inscription
Evaluation can take up to three months after submission. You may be contacted for additional information, so be sure to use an email that is checked regularly.
Approved marker grants are fully funded and include the marker, pole, and shipping costs. If approved, the Foundation will send a Letter of Agreement to be signed. When the letter is signed, a check is mailed for the total amount made payable to the applying agency. The agency is responsible for cashing the check, then issuing the payment to the foundry and sending in the order form provided. Instructions for ordering the marker will accompany the grant check. The grant recipient is responsible for installation of the marker, and we provide an installation guide as well.
For more detailed instructions, see our How to Apply guide: How to Apply
Application Deadlines in 2026
Important Dates
ROUND 1
- 3/16/26 – Application becomes available online
- 4/17/26 – Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to verify primary sources.
- 5/18/26 – Application deadline
ROUND 2
- 9/4/26 – Application becomes available online
- 10/2/26 – Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) to verify primary sources.
- 11/9/26 – Application deadline
Evaluation can take up to three months after the grant round closes. We will email you with a status update.
Please note, student-led applications for Historic Transportation markers will be accepted on a rolling basis through our Pomeroy Education Program. Educators may complete the LOI with their students at any time. Go to our education program page for more information.
Questions?
Contact Christy at info@wgpfoundation.org or 315-913-4060, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (EST).