Question for you map makers....historical POIs

[woodstramp]

In various GPS topo softwares I have used (Magellan, Delorme, Filedepot maps) I have seen historical POI data. 

I wondered if you guys might know the original source of this data.  (ironic...history of history data....)    I assume that different map makers like you guys and companies like Magellan all draw from the same original pool, seeing how I find the same points, in different map files.   I'm assuming USGS, but don't know this for fact.

[Seldom]

GNIS (USGS?) POI often contain a "historical" attribute.  But sometimes this is bogus.  There are a bunch of "Castles" in Bryce Canyon National Park that are labeled "historical" but they're actually rock formations.

[woodstramp]

Thanks, there, Seldom.

That is what I was thinking.  But, in this particular POI I actually found remnants of an old structure. It is listed as an 1850's era  forge. The little I could find on a Google search listed it as a Calatan bloomery.  Was quite tickled when we closed in.  The poi was only about 80 feet away from the actual foundation we found.   Was talking to a local.  He was aware of the structure, but did not know what it was. 

I called an area museum (that specializes in early iron works) to find more info on it and they'd never heard of it.  Found that odd. 

[Boyd]

My experience is that the GNIS data has a number of points that have "historical" in the name itself. For example, I'm working on a section of Maine now and here's a snip from the GNIS.

[woodstramp]

Yeah, Boyd, that is the way they show on the maps.  One other local one is labled "Conchardee (historical)".

Always been a history buff and I really like that these are listed. Conchardee, for instance.  I passed this place a million times on a school bus as a kid and never heard that name once.  Did some internet research and found out it was originally an indian villiage, then later a white folks community after indian removal. Now it is nothing but cow pasture. Same with the furnace I mentioned earlier.   I'm just glad these are listed at all.