History Here Markers

Ceremony presenting a History Here Marker to San Antonio Lodge No. 1.

About the Program

The Office of Historic Preservation’s (OHP) History Here program prioritizes undertold and geographically diverse stories, substantiated by research, embedded community knowledge, and oral traditions.

Nominations are reviewed by community members representing neighborhoods and organizations across San Antonio.

Learn more about current markers on our History Here Blog.

Prepare Your Nomination

NOTE: There is no fee to submit a nomination, but nominators are responsible for covering the costs associated with marker installation.  

Organizations or businesses may sponsor the cost of the marker installation and may have their logo placed on the marker above the OHP logo.  

Before you begin the online nomination form, please be prepared to submit the following materials:

Required Materials

Proposed Name of Site

The proposed name of the site will be printed on the marker in all capital letters below the program name.

You are not required to select a name. You can simply use the property address or suggest a name that describes the person, event, or place you are celebrating, such as "The Carol Burnett House" or "The Grave of Pat the Horse."

Site Address

Provide information about where the marker will be installed using one of the following:

  • street address
  • description of the nearest intersection
  • latitude and longitude

Marker Text

Write a short narrative about the topic. This text will appear on the History Here marker. It should be no more than 100 words, or two to three sentences.

For tips on writing the marker narrative, consult our guide: How to Write a Marker Inscription(PDF, 62KB).

OHP staff will coordinate with a translation service to develop the Spanish-language version of your text.

Citations & Sources

Compile a list of sources used to support your nomination, including:

  • names of authors
  • titles of books or articles
  • links to online information

If your nomination is based on community knowledge, oral traditions, or other non-traditional sources, describe them as clearly as possible. When available, include names and contact information, such as phone numbers, email addresses or mailing addresses.

This information will not appear on the marker.

Permission to Install Marker

Before submitting your nomination, confirm the property owner for the site where the marker will be installed.

Private Property

You will need to obtain the property owner's permission for marker installation on private property.

  • Notify the property owner about your planned nomination.
  • Provide the property owner’s contact information so that OHP staff can verify permission for the marker installation.

You can search for property owner information on the Bexar Appraisal District website.

If you're unable to reach the property owner, contact the Office of Historic Preservation before completing the nomination form.

Public Property or Right-of-Way

Provide a description of the installation location on public property or within the public right-of-way.

If the nominated site is on public property, in an easement, or within the public right-of-way, list the City of San Antonio as the property owner.

Optional Materials

You may also include optional supplemental materials to provide a more thorough history of your site or story:

  • Include a detailed narrative to be shared on OHP's History Here Blog. This can be as long as needed to fully convey the history of the site.
  • Provide historic photos, maps, articles or other supporting materials.
  • Include any additional documentation that helps explain the site's significance.

 

Nomination Process

Step 1.Submit the Nomination Form

Once you have gathered and finalized all required materials, submit your nomination.

Nomination Form

Step 2.Nomination Review

OHP staff will review your nomination for completeness and will reach out if additional information is needed. Once your nomination is complete, it will be forwarded to the Community Review Committee.

This committee is made up of San Antonians representing a range of community organizations, including:

  • The Conservation Society of San Antonio
  • Esperanza Peace & Justice Center
  • American Institute of Architects (AIA) San Antonio
  • San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM)
  • Students and faculty from local public history, area studies and preservation programs

Step 3.Marker Purchase

If your nomination is approved, OHP staff will coordinate with you to arrange the purchase of the marker.

The cost of a standard, weather-graded plastic sign is $250.

If you or your organization cannot cover this cost, you're encouraged to seek a sponsor - or multiple sponsors. Each marker includes space to display sponsor names or logos in the right-hand column.

Step 4.Marker Installation

The cost and process of installation is the responsibility of the nominator. OHP staff can provide examples of previous installation methods, and contacts for contractors who have performed previous marker installations upon request.

Markers proposed for installation on landmarked properties or properties within OHP’s design review purview will require a Certificate of Appropriateness prior to installation.

OHP staff will fully explain this process following the initial review of the nomination and prior to sharing the nomination with the Community Review Committee.

Contact

Email

Contact Form

Phone

210-207-7984

Address

City Tower
100 W. Houston
San Antonio, TX 78205
Directions

Mailing Address

City of San Antonio
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283

Hours

Monday - Friday: 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

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