Boston opens public nominations for 25 new historic markers
Residents and community groups can nominate people, places and events through Jan. 29, 2027, with the city emphasizing histories that have been underrepresented or rarely commemorated.
BOSTON — The City of Boston is accepting public nominations for a new round of 25 historic markers, the first time the city's Boston Historic Markers Program has opened nominations to the public, officials said Friday.
Residents, community groups and others may nominate people, places and events from across Boston's neighborhoods, the city said, with an emphasis on histories that have been underrepresented or rarely commemorated. Nominations are open through Jan. 29, 2027, at boston.gov/historic-markers. Applications are available in English, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese.
A panel of historians, historic site managers and civic leaders will review the nominations and recommend 25 stories for markers to be installed around the city, according to the city. Nominations that are not selected will be kept for consideration in future rounds. The city said its goal is to commemorate up to 400 stories before Boston's 400th anniversary in 2030.
"A nomination doesn't require someone to be a professional historian," said Kathy Kottaridis, director of the city's Office of Historic Preservation. "Tell us the story, tell us why it matters, and help us understand what it reveals about Boston."
The city launched the program in March as part of its commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. With money from the Edward Ingersoll Browne Fund, 21 local nonprofit organizations received community research grants, and an initial set of 25 markers formed the core of Tour 250, a guide to the histories of Boston's neighborhoods. The city is also working with Embrace Boston's Everyone250 initiative to mark places tied to civil rights and social justice history.
The Office of Historic Preservation will hold four public information sessions on the program and the application process: Nov. 17 at 5 p.m., Nov. 18 at noon, Dec. 7 at noon and Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. Registration is available at boston.gov/historic-markers.
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