TOPEKA (KSNT) — Kansas has installed more than 100 cast-aluminum historic markers since the 1930s, speckling highways with accessible attractions for people passing through the state.
Each marker focuses on events important to Kansas history, highlighting Native American history, historic trails, military events and pioneer history. Some travelers make a point to stop at them during their journeys through the Sunflower State.
“I know a lot of people who do travel, they make it a point to always stop at historical markers because they like to learn and they like to know where they are and what happened there,” said Kansas Historical Society Preservation Officer Katrina Ringler.
While the Kansas Historical Society does not have any new markers to install now, it is in the process of developing a new prototype program.
“What we are hoping to get with our new prototype is more of the 20th century history, things like aviation women’s history, different interstate highways and stuff,” Ringler said. “That way, we are representing a more full representation of the state’s history.”
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The organization encourages people to contact it with ideas for future markers. In many cases, these signs are the only remaining evidence an event happened.
“Markers really help us kind of make that connection with the people and places that we are encountering every day, so especially in places where there is nothing physically left, these markers might be the only way to tell the story,” Ringler said.
To learn more about the Kansas Historical Society preservation efforts, you can click here.
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