During the time of the program (1926–1939), over 2,800 small blue cast-iron site markers with yellow lettering were placed all over the state of New York.

During the 1960s, public funding was briefly granted again for larger, more detailed signs in places such as rest areas along the state's interstate highways and thruway.

These large-format "Historic Area Markers" provided visitors with cultural information in a setting along routes with heavy traffic.

[2] The larger markers provide overviews of the history of New York, pointing out local significance that makes that particular place unique and interesting.

Today you must supply fact sheets to the field so that it may be entered into the data base of county listings of existing markers.

In April 2012 the program began including all municipalities and not-for-profit organizations as eligible grant recipients.

As of November 2024, the William G. Pomeroy Foundation reported funding over 1,100 historic markers all 62 New York counties.