Revised 9/2011
Marker Program Measure Of the approximately 125 markers inspected each year, 85-100 % will be in good to excellent condition. Click here to see agency program measures.
Source of Data and Methodology The IHB maintains a repair/maintenance database containing historical information on the approximately 500 installed markers to enable the IHB to track a marker from its installation—its condition, repairs, and maintenance via inspections and incident reports of various kinds, including photographs. Starting in FY08, the IHB committed to have inspected and photographed annually approximately 25% of the standing markers. There are markers dating from 1946 still standing. From the condition reports gathered each year, the Historical Bureau will determine the priorities and available resources, and have needed repairs completed as possible.
It must be understood that the condition of a marker can change from one day to the next as a result—negatively—of accident or vandalism or—positively—of repainting or repair. The numbers used for the metric reflect the condition recorded at one point in time, during the survey period.
Inspection Process The Indiana Historical Bureau has divided the state into four regions; each region contains approximately 25% of the state’s markers; the list is at the end of the statement. Each year, the Bureau will have all markers in one of the four sections inspected to determine the condition of the markers. The Bureau will continue to contact County Historians, County Historical Societies, INDOT Subdistricts, and other partners to assist the Bureau in its efforts to maintain these state format historical markers.
An inspection consists of the following elements. A volunteer or Bureau staff will go to the location of the marker. During the inspection, digital pictures (including close-ups of any damage) will be taken of both sides of the marker, the marker post, and the marker’s surrounding environment. From the digital images and comments of the inspector, the Bureau will prepare a standard report and make the determination of whether the marker is in excellent, good, or poor condition.
Markers in poor condition, if possible, will be fixed within six months following the end of the inspection period. Recruiting the help of local organizations to paint or repair minor damage will continue to be encouraged. In the case of severe structural damage, the Bureau will work with local organizations to raise money to pay for repairs carried out by the Bureau’s marker manufacturer. Money from the Bureau’s marker funding will be used as possible to match and encourage local contributions. Note: markers that are in poor condition are also subject to review under our Accuracy of Marker Texts Initiative, and may not be replaced if the text contains serious errors.
Condition Classifications
Excellent - Paint is not worn, there are no cracks on the marker, no evidence of rust, and the marker post is straight in the ground.
Good - Paint is worn slightly with minimal chipping, there are no major cracks, no evidence of rust, and the marker is relatively straight in the ground.
Poor - Paint is worn with many chips, there are cracks, rust is visible, the marker is no longer straight in the ground, or the post has been damaged or needs to be painted.
Inspection Regions, Schedules, and Results
North Central Region - next inspection period: calendar year 2012
Counties in region: Blackford, Boone, Clinton, Delaware, Fountain, Grant, Hamilton, Hendricks, Jay, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam, Randolph, Tipton, and Vermillion.
Inspection completed August 2008
Total number of markers inspected: 125
Inspection results: 73 % good/excellent
South Region – next inspection: calendar year 2013
Counties in region: Clark, Crawford, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Harrison, Jefferson, Ohio, Orange, Perry, Pike, Posey, Scott, Spencer, Switzerland, Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Washington.
Inspection completed October 2009
Total number of markers inspected: 119
Inspection results: 79 % good/excellent
South Central Region – next inspection period: calendar year 2014
Counties included: Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hancock, Henry, Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Ripley, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Union, Vigo, and Wayne.
Inspection completed October 2010
Total number of markers inspected: 109
Inspection results: 77% good/excellent
North Region – next inspection period: calendar year 2015
Counties included: Adams, Allen, Benton, Carroll, Cass, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fulton, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Kosciusko, La Porte, LaGrange, Lake, Marshall, Miami, Newton, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Tippecanoe, Wabash, Warren, Wells, White, and Whitley.
Inspection completion date: November 2011
Total number of markers inspected: 123
Inspection results: 72% good/excellent