The Shadow
RICHMOND, VA (VR) — Even as drivers rely more and more on their phones and devices in their vehicles to navigate them to their destinations, clear signage remains as important as ever.
The signs directing travelers to museums, battlefields and other historic sites are part of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Integrated Directional Signing Program. As people embark on road trips this summer to visit historic or tourist sites, this network of signs is there to help travelers reach their destination.
For those visiting historic sites this year in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, VDOT’s brown Supplemental Guide Signs serve as a convenient guidepost. They can be especially useful if a phone being used for directions is out of range.
“Virginia’s roads take you to destinations, and the sign program helps guide you,” said Rick Burgess, manager of the Integrated Directional Signing Program. “For travelers seeking to learn about Virginia’s history by strolling the grounds of the last major battle of the American Revolution at Yorktown Battlefield or seeing how some of the first U.S. presidents lived at Monticello, Mount Vernon, Montpelier or Highland, tourism signs point the way.”
The Supplemental Guide Signs come in various background colors. Brown signs direct travelers to cultural and historical sites. Blue signs point people to tourist information centers, and green signs indicate a nearby educational building or government facility. VDOT maintains more than 5,600 Supplemental Guide Signs.
The Integrated Directional Signing Program includes several other types of signs that help guide travelers along Virginia’s state-maintained highways to essential services, local businesses, attractions and tourist destinations. Some signs display business names or logos while others use generic symbols.
For more information on the Integrated Directional Signing Program, visit the program’s webpage. And remember to keep your eyes off your phones and on the roads to spot a directional sign.
