This variant-shaped marker for McKean Forest has an unusual level of information. It is not known what the colors of this marker were, but the text surely did not contrast well with the background color. (Pennsylvania Department of Highways Collection, Pennsylvania State Archives: RG-12 OL 5-0601 box 3, #1813)
This variant-shaped marker for McKean Forest has an unusual level of information. It is not known what the colors of this marker were, but the text surely did not contrast well with the background color. (Pennsylvania Department of Highways Collection, Pennsylvania State Archives: RG-12 OL 5-0601 box 3, #1813)
AIRED; March 24, 2026
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Across Pennsylvania, drivers pass them every day without a second thought. The blue and gold roadside signs shaped like a keystone are part of the state’s identity, but many people do not realize they carry nearly a century of history.
“A keystone marker… comes from the fact that the sign is keystone shaped,” said Jack Graham of the Keystone Marker Trust. “They’re made out of cast iron… and the two main types that people would encounter on the roadway are town name signs.”
Those town signs began appearing in the 1920s when the state’s Department of Highways, now known as PennDOT, installed them across the state. Each sign typically includes the name of the town, a brief historical note, and its founding date.
“They’re basically a welcome,” Graham said. “They’re painted in the bright blue and gold… and you’ll usually find one at either end of town.”
The signs were placed along major roads in communities large enough to have a post office. Most towns received at least two markers, one on each side, so travelers could see different directional information depending on where they were coming from or going to.
In addition to town markers, there are also signs for rivers and streams. These were mounted on bridges and designed to be read from both directions, since they were double-sided.
Despite their reach, many details about their origins remain unclear. Graham said researchers have never been able to confirm exactly how towns were selected or how the program was carried out.
“We don’t know if the town had to apply for them or if the highway department just said we’re making them and they come out and stick them up,” he said.
Over time, many of these markers have disappeared. Some were removed during road expansion, others were damaged by vehicles or snowplows, and many simply faded into obscurity.
“Many of them we only know about because of old photographs,” Graham said.
In one case, a missing sign was returned years later by a resident who had kept it after accidentally hitting it with a vehicle.
“I ran over this sign 15 years ago, took it home and put it in my garage because I didn’t want anybody to know,” the man told Graham. “Now I saw that one at the other end of town. I’m giving it back.”
The Keystone Marker Trust now works to locate, document, and restore the remaining signs. The small group relies on volunteers and community involvement to keep the markers in good condition.
“We basically have two important goals,” Graham said. “First is trying to document all of these signs… The other thing that we do is to physically do repairs or encourage the towns… to do that themselves.”
Because the markers are not officially maintained by a single agency, the trust depends on public awareness to protect them. Graham encourages residents to report any signs they find, especially if they are in poor condition or at risk of being lost.
“If you see one… and it isn’t in good shape, call the mayor and complain,” he said. “We really want towns to adopt them and care for them, because officially they’re orphans.”
For Graham, preserving the markers is about more than signs on the side of the road. It is about keeping pieces of local history visible for future generations, even as the world around them continues to change.
