Have you signed up to volunteer in your community?
Get outside, make a difference, and celebrate your local history! National Historic Marker Weekend 2026 takes place Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26!
This free, family-friendly volunteer event invites neighbors, friends, and families nationwide to clean and care for markers in their communities. Sign up to volunteer, help beautify your neighborhood, and join the 2026 Photo Challenge by highlighting the markers and stories that make your community special. Scroll down to view this year’s photo categories.
Historical markers can be found everywhere, along roadsides, in parks, downtown streets, and at historic sites. According to The Historical Marker Database, there are more than 227,000 markers across the United States, many of which have not been cleaned or maintained in years. National Historic Marker Weekend helps communities come together to preserve these local landmarks and make history shine again.
Created by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, National Historic Marker Weekend is now in its sixth year. The event begins on the last Friday of every April, with celebrations continuing throughout the weekend. Use our interactive marker map or HMdb.org to find markers near you and start planning your volunteer project.
With this year’s theme, “Your Hometown,” it’s a fun way to learn about history, give back, and spend time with the people around you. What makes your local history unique?
How to Volunteer for National Historic Marker Weekend
Register to Volunteer
Make your participation official! Individuals, families, groups and organizations that plan to volunteer in National Historic Marker Weekend are encouraged to register as through our website.
Sign Up to Volunteer
Plan Your Project
Getting ready for National Historic Marker Weekend? Download our volunteer kit. Included are a planning document, marker cleaning guide, lesson plans, kid-friendly activity ideas, and tips for project publicity.
Download the 2026 Volunteer Kit
Participation Benefits
As a “thank you,” each year registered volunteers are featured on our acknowledgments page and their photos will be eligible to be featured on our website and social media.
Meet the 2026 VolunteersMarker Weekend 2026 Photo Challenge
Join 
the Photo Challenge and showcase your volunteer experience! Share your pictures for a chance to be recognized. The Photo Challenge categories are:
- Best Before & After
- Team Spirit
- Largest Volunteer Group
- Student Involvement
- Creative Moment
- Social Media Engagement
- Community Impact
Registered volunteers who participate in the Photo Challenge will have the chance to be selected for the Historical Marker Honor Roll and entered into a giveaway.
To participate, take photos during your Marker Weekend project and share them on social media using #NationalHistoricMarkerWeekend and #PomeroyFoundation. Be sure to tag the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Select submissions may be featured on our social media channels and website. Showcase your participation and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Have an idea for a marker? Explore our Hometown Heritage and NYS Historic marker grant programs to learn how your community can apply.