Icons From a Proud Past, Gateways to a Bright Future

The Keystone Marker, with its ornate pole and brilliant blue and gold keystone, once graced the entrance to the vast majority of Pennsylvania's towns, villages, creeks, rivers, and trails. In the few places where they survive, they define and reflect a character that is purely local, but perfectly Pennsylvania.

When a visitor arrives in a place graced by these markers, they know they are someplace special.  Essential elements in that all-important first impression for visitors and reminders of our own place in life, the Markers are exclamation points for our work to protect and enhance our world. We encourage all Pennsylvanians to use this site a resource to showcase their work to these ends.

The KMT is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax exempt organization with a mission to establish a program around the markers that (1) celebrates Pennsylvania's people and places, its heritage and its future, by restoring and re-introducing these proud symbols unique to our state; and (2) creates a network of Pennsylvania communities and organizations dedicated to positive development that is economically sound, environmentally responsible, and socially equitable. Entities dedicating themselves to the Keystone Marker Trust Principles will be able to apply for grant funding to replace and restore their Keystone Markers.

This website is a resource for:

• people and organizations that have a marker and want to celebrate it,
• those who want to create or restore their markers,
• those who want to know more about these fascinating pieces of pure Pennsylvaniana,
• and those who want to use them as teaching tools.
• Equally importantly, this website is a place for those folks to highlight the great work they are doing in their hometowns. 
• We also hope to partner with waymaking societies to locate survivors, so we hope this website will serve as a resource for them as well.

Core elements in establishing pride-of-place, the markers are under-utilized tools in engaging young people with what it means to be a Pennsylvanian. Adopting a marker is a very visible, low-cost, high-return means for schools, historical societies, and local governments to teach not only local and state history, but also larger concepts of responsibility, volunteerism, and stewardship. By re-affirming the identity of "home," the markers encourage young people to appreciate their towns and special places and prepare them to re-invest in them in the multiple senses of that word later in life.

The Keystone Marker Trust is proud to offer N. Clair Clawser's 2013 Keystone Marker Calendar.  Mr. Clawser has been a life-long historian and fan of the Markers and his traveled extensively around the Commonwealth photographing them.  Calendars are available now for the price of $15.00 and can be ordered directly from Mr. Clawser by calling 717-626-4796 or writing him at P.O. Box 113, Campbelltown, PA 17010-0113.

Perfectly Pennsylvania, Uniquely Local

The Keystone Markers speak what it means to be from Pennsylvania.--everything from their color, shape and material to their text, placement, and history speak to who we were.  By restoring and replacing them, we make a confident statement about who we wish to be and inspire our young people about how where they are from can inform who they might become.  In displaying our pride of place, we establish a strong foundation for investment in all the ways Pennsylvania needs

A Need for Respectful Treatment and Accurate Replicas
Recent treatmentsof the signs and poles make a less enthusiastic representation at best and, at worst, smack of a sad disinvestment in place. 

Part of the problem for groups looking to adopt, repair or replace their markers is that accurate replacement signs and poles are not available, nor are guidelines for appropriate marker treatment. We are developing the ability to create historically-accurate keystone signs (complete with the rear-bracing) and poles that meet PennDOT regulations. Additionally, we are working with PennDOT to develop guidelines about marker treatment. We are developing an educational tool kit and a "Adopt-a-Marker" program. Lastly, we hope to make available in the near future revolving loans for schools, historical societies, and municipalities to create or repair their markers.

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Please note:  The markers associated with the Keystone Marker Trust are different than those sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, pictured here.  The PHMC's markers are different in shape, color, history, and purpose, and are used to denote historic events, people, and sites.  To find out more about the PHMC's historic marker program, click here.  The historical marker is a registered trademark of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the marker text is copyright protected.  Used with permission

Photo courtesy of the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance 
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