Want to help build a museum to the Boston Marathon? Buy this Massachusetts license plate

HOPKINTON — A new specialty license plate is designed to honor the Boston Marathon as well as promote a local foundation hoping to build a new museum dedicated to marathons.

The 26.2 Foundation license plate went on presale on May 16.

"We have a vision of building an International Marathon Center in Hopkinton," said 26.2 Foundation Executive Director Tim Kilduff. "It's been in the works for years, so we need to promote the brand. In order to do what will be a $30 million facility with state-of-the-art exhibits, we need exposure beyond little Hopkinton."

Where will the International Marathon Center be built?

The planned center is to be on a 19-acre plot of land along the route of the Boston Marathon, approximately one mile from the starting line.

When will the Boston Marathon and 26.2 Foundation license plate be on the road?

The 26.2 Foundation must presell 750 of the specialty license plates before the Registry of Motor Vehicles will begin printing the plates.

Once there are 750 license plates sold, the RMV will begin manufacturing the plates, which takes approximately six to eight months. The new plates and registrations will be mailed to people once they pay a $20 license plate swap fee.

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How much does the vanity license plate cost?

To get the license plate, it will be $100. That includes the standard $60 registration fee and $40 more — $28 of which will go to the 26.2 Foundation. The license plate can be renewed every two years for $40, all of which goes to the 26.2 Foundation.

If interested, people can donate an extra $100 to get a license plate with the numbers between one and 100, excluding 6 and 26.

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Why is the marathon license plate in Massachusetts

Kilduff said he hopes the plates generate interest in the foundation and the planned facility as well as work as a way to honor the Boston Marathon.

"It gives us a platform to connect with people," he said. "It's a pretty valuable tool, potentially. And there's nothing that really focuses on the premiere event in Massachusetts, which is the Boston Marathon."

How to order a 26.2 Foundation license plate

Visit 26-2.org/licenseplate to download an order form.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMIllerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Massachusetts license plate for 26.2 Foundation on sale: What to know