Legends & Lore Roadside Marker Grants

Legends & Lore Roadside Marker Grants is sponsored by William G. Pomeroy Foundation. Provides fully funded roadside markers to commemorate local folklore, traditions, and storytelling in communities across 15 states.

Legends & Lore® Marker Grant Program | William G. Pomeroy Foundation You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Celebrate History Legends & Lore® Marker Grant Program Legends & Lore® Marker Grant Program Does your community have a great piece of folklore that should be shared? Legends & Lore® is designed to promote cultural tourism and commemorate legends and folklore as part of our heritage.

Folklore generally encompasses the stories, customs, traditions, and expressive arts and crafts that are passed from one person to another, often from generation to generation. Folklore is the knowledge that people share as members of a group or community. Our collective identities and sense of belonging are the result of shared traditions, stories, customs, and activities.

Before applying, please take the time to review the information on this page, as well as on our Marker Criteria, Accepted Sources, and FAQ pages in the tabs above. Our requirements and guidelines are detailed on these pages. Ready to apply?

Review the information here, then click on the Apply button to go to our online application portal. If you are familiar with our application process, get started here: Apply for Grant Legends and Folklore Subject Matter Guidelines Successful Legends & Lore marker applications typically fall within three main categories: Folktale — Fictional stories passed down about people or events not proven to have existed.

(e.g. Thirteen Curves , Champy , Headless Horseman , Tramping Ground ) Legends — Stories passed down that are popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable. (e.g. Grancer’s Ghost , Betsy’s Ride , Natty Bumppo , “Natty Bumppo” ) Folklife — Traditions such as music, skills, crafts, and events passed along within a community. Often involving real people* that can be verified with primary sources.

(e.g. “Goose Day,” The Arborglyphs , Dennis McGee , Herbs & Healing , Folk Singer ) Subjects which are not successful include: Historical events lacking a folkloric aspect *Legendary or famous persons lacking a folkloric aspect to the story Purely literary creations Personal/family folklore which does not extend to the greater community Legends & Lore® marker grants are available to 501(c)(3) organizations, nonprofit academic institutions, and local, state and federal government entities within the United States.

Applicants may apply for up to five (5) markers per grant round. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact an eligible local organization, such as an applicable historical society or folklore-related nonprofit. They will often apply for the grant on behalf of the individual.

Please note that Legends & Lore® is currently available in the following 15 states: Alabama, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. Check back regularly for program availability in your state.

As we expand nationally, we seek to partner with folklore organizations, folklore-related academic departments, and state-sponsored councils & agencies with subject expertise to evaluate Legends & Lore® grant applications and promote the program statewide. Visit Legends & Lore partners page for details, benefits, and eligibility. The color of Legends & Lore® markers is deep red with light beige lettering and border.

Markers are 18” x 32” cast aluminum with a 7’ aluminum pole. The title line allows 15 characters, and the five body lines can have 27 characters each, including spaces and punctuation. Each Legends & Lore® marker includes two credit lines below the inscription.

The first line features the name of the Foundation’s state folklore partner. The second line lists the Foundation’s name followed by the year granted. Each marker will also be numbered according to its place in the Legends & Lore® series.

The emblem at the top of each marker displays a moon and stars design. For more guidance on the marker inscription, see our Marker Criteria page. Please carefully consider the location where the marker is to be installed.

Markers should not be placed on high-traffic roadways or roadways where vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed if there is no place for a vehicle to safely pull over out of traffic. Markers should not be placed where the visitor must intrude on private property to read it or view a site related to the marker inscription.

Before installing your marker, please be sure you are following all of your state guidelines around digging and excavation. For more information about marker location recommendations, see our Marker Criteria page . Primary sources are not required for this grant program.

However, supporting documents are required as part of the application to demonstrate that the proposed inscription is a valid example of a legend or folklore according to criteria stated in the Subject Criteria section above. Be sure to provide scanned copies of documents, not just indexes or citations. Applications submitted without supporting documentation will not be approved.

See our Accepted Sources page for more information on what kind of documentation you can use to support your marker inscription. Verification Standards and AI Our commitment to accuracy is our gold standard. Therefore, we do not accept information generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

In addition to mimicking authentic sources that appear legitimate but do not exist (sometimes called “hallucinating” or “fabricating”), AI works by summarizing information from the internet or from unverified databases, which we do not accept as source material. June 2026 We only offer an online application.

Applications must include the following: The applying agency’s information Contact information for the person responsible for the application A proposed installation location with specific details (including GPS coordinates and an optional photo upload) A brief description and explanation of the historical significance of what is being commemorated A proposed inscription for marker A letter from the landowner granting permission for the marker to be installed on their property Documentation supporting the proposed marker inscription Evaluation and approval can take up to three months after submission.

You may be contacted for additional information, so be sure to use an email that is checked regularly. Approved marker grants are fully funded and include the marker, pole, and shipping costs. If approved, the Foundation will send a Letter of Agreement to be signed.

When the letter is signed, a check is mailed for the total amount made payable to the applying agency. The agency is responsible for cashing the check, then issuing the payment to the foundry and sending in the order form provided. Instructions for ordering the marker will accompany the grant check and order form.

The grant recipient is responsible for installation of the marker, and we provide an installation guide as well. For more detailed instructions, see our How to Apply guide: How to Apply 3/9/26 – Application available online 4/27/26 – Application deadline 8/24/26 – Application available online 10/12/26 – Application deadline Evaluation can take up to three months after the grant round closes. We will email you with a status update.

Contact Christy at info@wgpfoundation. org or 315-913-4060, Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm (EST). Last updated: March 9, 2026