Bringing Local History to Life: GO Laurel Highlands Partners with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to Create a Laurel Highlands Heritage Trail
History is all around us in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands. From Revolutionary War sites and industrial innovation to remarkable people, communities, and traditions, our region is filled with stories that deserve to be discovered and shared.
To help bring those stories to life, GO Laurel Highlands is proud to collaborate with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation to encourage the creation of a regional Laurel Highlands Heritage Trail featuring historical markers throughout Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties.
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation believes that every community has stories worth preserving. Since 2005, the Foundation has helped celebrate and honor local history by funding more than 2,000 historical markers across the United States. Through its nationally recognized grant programs, the Foundation provides fully funded historical markers that recognize the people, places, events, folklore, transportation history, food traditions, and other stories that have shaped communities. Today, the Foundation offers six signature historical marker grant programs, along with additional marker initiatives developed through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and academic institutions.
The Laurel Highlands Heritage Trail will encourage communities, historical societies, museums, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations to identify significant local stories and apply for Pomeroy marker grants. Together, these markers will create a growing network of heritage destinations that invite residents and visitors to explore the rich history found throughout our four-county region.
Beyond preserving history, the project will strengthen heritage tourism by encouraging travelers to venture beyond well-known attractions and discover the unique stories that make each Laurel Highlands community special. Historical markers inspire exploration, support local businesses, and foster community pride while ensuring that important stories are remembered for generations to come.
Upcoming Grant Opportunities
Organizations interested in placing a historical marker should begin researching their proposed topic now. Most Pomeroy marker programs require applicants to document their marker text using primary historical sources before submitting a full application. Please call Dawn at GO Laurel Highlands if you wish to apply for a marker for the Laurel Highlands Heritage Trail. (724-238-5661 ext 102)
If your site qualifies for the National Registry, you can apply for Markers on a rolling basis. The other categories open as follows, so it’s not too early to get them working on it:
- Legends & Lore: 8/24-10/12
- Transportation: 9/4-10/2
- Hometown Heritage: 10/5-11/2
Because each marker program has its own eligibility requirements and application schedule, prospective applicants are encouraged to review the specific program guidelines well in advance. Organizations should begin identifying potential topics, gathering primary source documentation, and securing site permissions before the application window opens.
GO Laurel Highlands looks forward to working with community partners across the region to identify compelling stories and expand this regional Heritage Trail one marker at a time.
If your organization has a story worth sharing, now is the perfect time to begin exploring the opportunity. Together, we can preserve the people, places, and events that have shaped the Laurel Highlands—and inspire future generations to discover them.
