In Search of History

A new 91FM series brings to life the stories behind Pennsylvania's historical markers
By Jennifer Fletcher

For many residents, Pennsylvania's blue-and-gold historical markers, which highlight people, places and events significant in state and national history, have become a permanent fixture in the scenery.

Of the nearly 1,900 markers in the state of Pennsylvania, there are more than 400 in the greater Philadelphia region. Beginning this month, WHYY brings to life the fascinating stories and history of some of these markers through the WHYY Historical Markers Project, a series of weekly segments that will air on Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. during Morning Edition on 91FM.

WHYY is collaborating on this project with WITF in Harrisburg and The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, who have joined efforts with other nonprofit organizations and state agencies to create a Web site at www.explorePAhistory.com, combining rich multimedia content -- including text, archival photographs and audio and video clips -- to help people explore the state's history through the many lessons and stories behind the markers.

"The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has been establishing markers throughout the state for decades, and we are bringing them alive in a new way," says Ken Finkel, executive director of WHYY's Arts & Culture service.

The radio segments will revolve around six major themes: music, the environment, the Civil War, the Underground Railroad, the American Revolution and William Penn. "We tried to pick stories that stand out in the region," explains 91FM arts and culture reporter Joel Rose, who is producing the series. "These stories are about Philadelphia's roles in the Civil War, or in environmental history, in Pennsylvania history, of arts and culture, and the history of music."

The WHYY Historical Markers Project begins on May 6 with a profile of Eastern State Penitentiary. The penitentiary was once an international model for prison design and last month celebrated its 10-year anniversary of public tours.

On May 13, the subject is Lewis and Clark, which tells the story of how explorer Meriwether Lewis' visit to Philadelphia in May of 1803 contributed -- intellectually and scientifically -- to the team's famous expedition through the American West. On May 20, the series visits the former home of late saxophonist John Coltrane to examine his contributions to Philadelphia's jazz scene.

The first part of the series concludes on May 27 with an exploration of the home of John Bartram, the self-taught horticulturist who created Bartram's Garden, America's oldest surviving botanical garden.

By utilizing the reach and impact of radio, the WHYY Historical Markers Project provides the opportunity for listeners to learn more about the history of the markers and the history of the region beyond the marker's short inscriptions.

"This [series] allows us to really look at Philadelphia," says executive producer Elisabeth Perez-Luna. "It's a city of science, of history, of music, of politics, of arts and culture. First, the markers acknowledge all of that and then [through the series], we provide some additional material, to give life to the knowledge."

The WHYY Historical Markers Project airs Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. during Morning Edition beginning May 6. For more information about the series, visit www.whyy.org/91FM/markers.html.