Signage to Mark the Route and to Describe Sites
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State groups have facilitated the development, funding, and placement
of three types of markers (described in detail below):
-- wayfinding (route marker, helps you follow a trail) -- overlook (interpretive, describes an event or site) -- kiosk (where more description would be appropriate). Rhode Island: The state placed about 140 wayfinding signs along the W3R in that state in May of 2006. Several interpretive signs are planned for Newport and Providence. Connecticut: In 2005 and 2006 the W3R-CT installed twelve interpretive markers along the W3R in that state. The design and construction of the signs was funded by a private donation. New York: In 2006 local historical societies placed 45 interpretive signs at sites where officers and troops stayed along the W3R. New Jersey: In 2006 the town of Mahwah placed about twenty wayfinding signs (in three sizes) along the W3R through that town. Pennsylvania: Discussions are underway for several signs. Delaware: The W3R-DE placed an interpretive sign (funded by the SAR
and DAR) next to the Grand Opera House im Wilmington, Delaware,
to commemorate the stay of Lauzun's Legion (French Army) of 550 soldiers,
who were posted in nearby buildings for a five-month period in 1782-3.
The dedication ceremony was held during the 2005 annual meeting of the W3R-US on
Maryland and DC: The interpretive sign at site where the baggage train forded the Potomac River in Georgetown has been restored. The interpretive sign placed at Camden Yards in Baltimore during the bicentennial is being restored. Discussions are underway for several additional signs. Virginia: The DAR replaced interpretive signs posted during the bicentennial
with new signs at
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Example of Interpretive Sign -- dedicated in Lebanon CT on 2005 Oct 1
Example of Interpretive Sign -- dedicated in East Hartford CT on 2005 Oct 16
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STANDARD DESIGN: After the signage workshop at the 2005 April National Leadership Meeting
representatives from most of the W3R states met with the National Park Service
Harper's Ferry Sign Shop staff and agreed on the design standard shown below.
W3R-States should have their graphic designers contact:
Phillips-Saddler Creative 902 Harvey Road Claymont, DE 19703 phone: (302)-798-1364 Email: phillipssaddler@comcast.net |
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Web Kiosks A modern alternative to "painted boards" is an all-weather kiosk
with a captive Web site (which displays only pages designed by the sponsor).
On 2006 July 4 an interactive kiosk was unveiled at the Amtrak Station in Wilmington DE. This was developed by Talisman Interactive with funding by the state of Delaware, the National Park Service, and the Alliance Francaise. Over a million travellers pass through this station each year, and the kiosk encourages them to visit W3R and other historic sites in Delaware on this or their next trip. The W3R Shield Sign: The current version of the W3R logo was designed so as to be easily identified by people travelling by car along the W3R. It features a blue shield with W3R in white at the top above a line of six, five-pointed white stars. The bottom has a white background and is divided into a left (U.S.) side with two vertical red stripes and a right (French) side with a single orange fleur de lis outlined in blue.
NOTE: The earlier versions of the logo appear on many signs placed before 2006. These used a white background, spelled out "Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route 1780-1783" at the top, and had no line of stars. The U.S. side of the shield used either the well-known "Betsy Ross" arrangement of stars (thirteen stars forming a circle) or the better documented "James Hopkinson" arrangement (thirteen stars in staggered rows, 3-2-3-2-3). The French side of the shield used three yellow (or blue) fleur de lis with no outline color -- a design used by the French in 1781 (with varying numbers of fleur de lis) on the flags flown from forts and ships. Wayfinding (Trail Marking) Sign: For good visibility these should be about 12 by 15 inches in size with either a) just the W3R logo, or b) the logo with an arrow at the bottom to indicate a route turn or c) the logo and an arrow and a name to indicate a nearby site. These serve to let people know they are still on the W3R and to alert them to nearby W3R-related historical sites.
Overlook (Interpretive) Signs: are typically a single 24 by 36 inch panel (printed on only one side) describing the site where the sign is located. If the sign is in a location where tourists have the time to stop and read the sign, the sign should have a short title to attract immediate attention, a startup sentence or two to draw readers onward, two or three interesting graphics, and descriptive text that can be read in three minutes. Remember that a good graphic is worth a thousand words. A small W3R logo at the top will tie this sign into the whole W3R. Since unattended public displays are subject to graffiti such signs are printed on fiberglass panels about an eighth of an inch thick which are then covered with a clear, cut-resistant film. A gateway sign placed close to the state border could include a state route-map showing the locations of kiosks, other overlook signs, and major sites (near the W3R) that are related to the American Revolution. |
Latest changes: 06Oct 24 - split from activities /