§ 558 — Erection and maintenance of historic markers; employment of expert assistance; unauthorized possession or transportation; duplication

(a) The Department of State shall:

(1) Determine and select such points of historic interest throughout this State as the Department thinks should be marked with a suitable monument, tablet or marker;

(2) Design, purchase and erect monuments, tablets or markers which the Department may decide to be appropriate at such points, indicating thereon the events commemorated and having such other suitable inscription as may seem necessary; and

(3) Keep in good repair all monuments, tablets and markers erected by the Historic Markers Commission and also all monuments, tablets and markers erected by the Department of State.

(b) The Department may employ such expert assistance to aid in its historical researches as it may deem necessary to effectively carry out the purposes of this section.

(c) All historical markers which are erected by the Department of State shall be the property of the State. No person, entity or business shall possess, transport, alter or remove said marker without written authority of an appropriate official of the Department of State. Further, no person, entity or business shall receive, retain, alter or dispose of state historical markers absent written authorization of an appropriate official of the Department of State. Unauthorized recipients of these markers may be prosecuted criminally for receiving stolen property.

(d) The Department of State may establish rules or regulations regarding all aspects of state historical markers. Other persons, entities or businesses shall not duplicate state historical markers, or create, obtain or install similar markers with an intent to mislead or deceive the public.

Legislative History

41 Del. Laws, c. 94, §§ 1-3 ; 29 Del. C. 1953, § 3308; 57 Del. Laws, c. 608, § 1B ; 66 Del. Laws, c. 211, § 1 ; 69 Del. Laws, c. 247, § 1