The Society maintains a Historic Plague Program which recognizes significant places from La Quinta’s past. You can see these existing locations by following the City of La Quinta self-guided tour.

If you have a property that is on the La Quinta City Official Register of Historic Properties and you have applied for and received Landmark Status, then you may Apply and Pay for an Official Bronze Plaque as approved by the La Quinta Historical Society and the City of La Quinta. Prices for a Plaque range from $507.00 to $754.00 depending upon size (price includes taxes, shipping and fees).

When you apply you can select from three different sizes of Plaques but you are limited to 2 Plaques. Payment for the Plaque(s) is part of the application and must be received before the Plaque(s) are processed.

After receipt and verification of your application expect 10 to 14 weeks for delivery. When the Plaque(s) are available, we will contact you for pick-up.

If your property is not currently on the Official Register but you think it should be, or if you have not applied for and received Landmark Status then go to our Historic Preservation Designation page.

Guidelines for Plaques:

Plaque Components:

1. City Seal – (at top)
2. Name of Historical Landmark (Optional) – (If naming please see naming below)
3. Date landmark was built – (Confirmed by historical survey)
4. City of La Quinta  –  (City name to appear)
5. Landmark No – (Provided by the City of La Quinta)

Placement:

1. If the architecture allows, a plaque may be placed by the front door of the historical landmark near eye level so that it can be seen clearly.
2. If there is a perimeter wall or fence obscuring the front door or entry the plaque may be placed on the exterior of the front wall next to the primary entry gate or it is preferred that the plaque be placed so that it can be visible to the public, although it is not required.
3. Designated historical landmarks may order up to two plaques.

Guidelines for Naming Historic Landmarks:

1. Naming is limited to 23 characters and spaces.
2. Landmarks may be named for the HISTORIC PERSON associated with the landmark.
3. Landmarks may be named after the HISTORICAL NAME as it may have been established by the original owner, subsequent owners, or such name shall be substantiated as the landmark’s known name since its period of significance or for the past 50 years.
4. If the landmark is a building, the landmark may be named after the FIRST OWNER WHO COMMISSIONED THE BUILDING. If the landmark is a house, the commissioning owner has to have lived on the premises in order for the house to be named for this. The spouse of the first owner may be included in the landmark name if they lived on the premises and were absent from any specific information for their inclusion. If both names appear in the Chain of Title, then the names of both spouses would be presented in the order as they appear on the Chain of Title, but listing on the Chain of Title is not required for a spouse who can otherwise be shown to have lived on the premises.
5. If the landmark is a commercial building or an income-producing building (apartment house) the landmark may be named after the OWNER WHO HAD IT BUILT, ITS HISTORICAL USE or,
6. If the landmark is associated with a master architect, builder or craftsman, the name of the MASTER ARCHITECT, BUILDER, OR CRAFTSMAN shall be used.
7. A landmark that has been designed by a master architect, builder or craftsman who also resided in and/or owned the landmark shall have the single designator of the MASTER ARCHITECT,  BUILDER  OR CRAFTSMAN.
8. The current owner’s name shall not be used in the naming of a Landmark.