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Kentucky's Roadside History: The Story Behind Those Green Markers

Posted on Mar 3, 2026

If you’ve driven around Kentucky, you’ve seen them — those distinctive green and gold signs posted along roadsides and in front of historic buildings. Kentucky’s historical marker program is actually one of the oldest and largest in the entire country, and there’s a pretty fascinating story behind how they got there.

It Started with a Private Club

Before the state got involved, a private nonprofit organization called the Historical Markers Society (HMS) launched the effort in 1935. It was a group of businessmen, local politicians, and University of Kentucky academics who wanted to document the state’s history — and, not coincidentally, boost the local economy with heritage tourism.

The HMS installed about two dozen markers, mostly concentrated in central Kentucky. The very first one was placed at Ashland, the home of Henry Clay. The second went up at Keeneland. Those early markers look noticeably different from what you see today and are considered “first generation” markers.

The State Takes Over

In 1949, the Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) partnered with the Department of Highways to formalize and expand the program. Then in 1962, KHS took on complete management — though the Transportation Cabinet still handles installation and maintenance of roadside markers.

One man was largely responsible for getting markers beyond Lexington and Louisville. Walter Wentworth, a retired advertising executive, noticed that 80 percent of the existing markers had ended up in central Kentucky. He pushed hard for geographic expansion, leading to a marker boom through the 1960s and ’70s. His efforts meant that today all 120 Kentucky counties have at least one marker. Wentworth was posthumously honored with marker #1420.

Three Generations of Markers

The markers have evolved through three distinct designs:

  • First Generation (1936–1962): Featured the state seal and two stars, with short text
  • Second Generation (1962–2000): Allowed longer narratives, with scrollwork and design elements; used olive green with burnt umber centers to simulate weathering
  • Third Generation (2000–present): Switched to “shading green” paint with gold enamel lettering

All markers are manufactured by Sewell Studios in Marietta, Ohio. Each one takes about a week to produce and can hold a maximum of 125 words of text.

What It Takes to Get a Marker

The nomination process is more involved than you might expect. KHS historians carefully vet every submission. To qualify:

  • The subject must have been deceased for at least 15 years
  • The topic must have statewide or national significance, not just local interest
  • Nominations are due by February 15 each year
  • Applications need community support — letters from mayors, city councils, veterans groups, and relevant organizations

As the program coordinator puts it: “We are using state taxpayer money to put up new markers, so we want to be very judicious and stewards of that funding.”

To nominate a topic, email Dr. Jim Seaver at james.seaver@ky.gov with a letter of interest describing the proposed topic and county location.

Find the Markers Online

Kentucky now has around 2,400 historical markers statewide. You can search for them through these resources:

Next time you’re driving through a small Kentucky town and spot one of those green signs, it’s worth pulling over. There’s usually a good story on it.