Dane County Historical Markers

Since 1963, the Dane County Historical Society has erected historical markers that note a person, site, or event significant in Dane County history. Today, there are 48 Dane County Historical Markers countywide. 

Dane County Historical Markers – Interactive Map

Click on the icon below to learn more about each DCHS historical marker. Clicking an icon will redirect you to a pop-up with more info and links to the Historical Marker Database website. HMDB.org is a catalog of historical markers nationwide that includes current photos, full marker text, and mapping features.

Our Newest Historical Marker

The most recent Dane County Historical Marker was unveiled as part of our 2021 Annual Meeting in September. Like so many before, this one is a two-sided historical marker (often called “history on a stick”) that sits on a post and has two distinct sides of text. One is titled The Lewis Nine Springs E-Way and provides a short history. The other is entitled Philip and Elizabeth Lewis for the dynamic duo that made the Nine Springs E-Way a reality. Completed in 1987, the Nine Springs E-Way was the first of its kind and has significantly impacted environmental corridor planning worldwide.

The marker will also include this image published in the Wisconsin State Journal. It shows Philip and Elizabeth Lewis standing by a bridge under construction in the E-Way close to where the marker will be installed. Also pictured is Jane Licht, who was then the Chair of the Dane County Parks Commission and is now a DCHS board member. 

Wisconsin Historical Society Markers

The Wisconsin Historical Society also has an active historical marker program that has erected 620 historical markers throughout Wisconsin. The official list of State Historical Markers is here. Visit their website for more information about Wisconsin’s State Historical Marker program.