History reminds us of who we are and how we got here. It helps us recognize and commemorate those who came before us, and also learn from their missteps. But institutional history can be invisible. When you take a walk through your college campus, you see the places that are significant in your own history – the building where you attended your first lecture, perhaps the spot where your spouse proposed – but, unless you open a history book, the details of the people who have walked there before you and the remarkable events that have occurred there go undetected. Until now.

As part of Indiana University’s 200-year anniversary, the Office of the Bicentennial has established an historical marker program. Directed by University Historian James Capshew, the program recognizes people, places, events, and organizations that have had an extraordinary impact on the university, the state of Indiana, the nation, and the world. In order to fit into the natural landscapes of IU’s campuses, markers will resemble boulders, topped with bronze plaques similar to the one pictured here. They will be installed on all IU campuses as well as off-site campus heritage sites where appropriate.

You can get involved! Nominate a person, place, event, or organization for an IU historical marker by visiting 200.iu.edu. Upcoming nomination deadlines are August 24, 2018 and January 11, 2019.