Across Pennsylvania, nearly 2,300 blue and gold signs tell the stories of prominent people and events in the state’s history. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has announced twenty four new historical markers that will soon be erected throughout the state.
Many of these new markers relate to historically marginalized people. Philadelphia will received a marker honoring Gloria Casarez, a Latinx LGBTQ activist who worked on initiatives related to HIV/AIDS, transgender health, and housing. This is the first historical marker in the state dedicated to a Latinx American. Another marker in the city tells the story of the Plastic Club, an group founded by women artists in 1897 after they were denied entry into the all-male Philadelphia Sketch Club. A third Philadelphia marker commemorates the Black student walkouts of November 1967 that started a youth movement for educational justice.
Outside of Philadelphia, new markers represent a range of places and people from an African American swim club in Yeadon to horror film director George A. Romero.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission selected the new markers from forty eight applications. A full list of new historical markers can be read here.