History on a Stick in North Carolina

I just love that description of those historical markers that you see as you drive down the road. I don't know about you, but I generally make an effort to pull over and read them. This makes the trip even more enjoyable in knowing things that happened at, or near the site.

They are sometimes called "History On A Stick."

I came across an article about North Carolina's Highway Historical Marker Program in the Star News On Line. It concerned markers in District D which consists of Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties. There are a total of 17 districts in the state. You will see the letter D at the top and a number signifying the date of placement.

Some of the Civil War Ds are D-58 near the home of William S. Ashe who was in charge of Confederate rail transportation during 1861-1862. Also, D-99 marks the place near the Northeast Cape Fear River where thousands of prisoners of war were exchanged in 1865. Both are on US-117.

One of particulat interest to me, since my mom has a condo at Topsail Beach, is D-104 on Topsail Island marking the existence of observation towers used during the development of the US missile program after WWII was over.

The markers are not always located right on the site because they are paid for and maintained by the state. As such, they can only be on state or US numbered roads.

"'History on a Stick' marks Pender's Past" by Chris Mudarri

Really "Stickin' " it to History. --RoadDog