diff --git a/docs/signs.rst b/docs/signs.rst
index 8384694..675fe48 100644
--- a/docs/signs.rst
+++ b/docs/signs.rst
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ The following keys are accepted in the marker dictionary:
 ``createInfoWindow``
     Optional. Specifies whether or not the icon displays an info window on click. Defaults to True
 
+``checked``
+    Optional.  Specifies whether or not this marker group will be checked(visible) by default when
+    the map loads.  Defaults to False
 
 Generating the POI Markers
 ==========================
diff --git a/overviewer_core/aux_files/genPOI.py b/overviewer_core/aux_files/genPOI.py
index f67e556..5d0c0b6 100755
--- a/overviewer_core/aux_files/genPOI.py
+++ b/overviewer_core/aux_files/genPOI.py
@@ -153,15 +153,18 @@ def main():
             return 1
       
         for f in render['markers']:
-            d = dict(icon="signpost_icon.png", createInfoWindow=True)
-            d.update(f)
-            markersets.add(((d['name'], d['filterFunction']), rset))
+            markersets.add(((f['name'], f['filterFunction']), rset))
             name = f['name'].replace(" ","_") + hex(hash(f['filterFunction']))[-4:] + "_" + hex(hash(rset))[-4:]
+            to_append = dict(groupName=name, 
+                    displayName = f['name'], 
+                    icon=f.get('icon', 'signpost_icon.png'), 
+                    createInfoWindow=f.get('createInfoWindow',True),
+                    checked = f.get('checked', False))
             try:
                 l = markers[rname]
-                l.append(dict(groupName=name, displayName = f['name'], icon=d['icon'], createInfoWindow=d['createInfoWindow']))
+                l.append(to_append)
             except KeyError:
-                markers[rname] = [dict(groupName=name, displayName=f['name'], icon=d['icon'], createInfoWindow=d['createInfoWindow']),]
+                markers[rname] = [to_append]
 
         handleSigns(rset, os.path.join(destdir, rname), render, rname)
         handlePlayers(rset, render, worldpath)
diff --git a/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js b/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js
index 23664d7..ac87ced 100644
--- a/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js
+++ b/overviewer_core/data/js_src/views.js
@@ -405,22 +405,6 @@ overviewer.views.SignControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
 
             return;
 
-            var groupsForThisTileSet = jQuery.map(dataRoot, function(elem, i) { return elem.groupName;})
-            for (markerSet in markersDB) {
-                if (jQuery.inArray(markerSet, groupsForThisTileSet) == -1){
-                    // hide these
-                    if (markersDB[markerSet].created) {
-                        jQuery.each(markersDB[markerSet].raw, function(i, elem) {
-                            elem.markerObj.setVisible(false);
-                        });
-                    }
-                    markersDB[markerSet].checked=false;
-                }
-                // make sure the checkboxes checked if necessary
-                $("[_mc_groupname=" + markerSet + "]").attr("checked", markersDB[markerSet].checked);
-
-            }
-
         });
 
     },
@@ -459,21 +443,6 @@ overviewer.views.SignControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
         });
 
 
-        // add some menus
-        for (i in dataRoot) {
-            var group = dataRoot[i];
-            this.addItem({group: group, action:function(this_item, checked) {
-                this_item.group.checked = checked;
-                jQuery.each(this_item.group.markerObjs, function(i, markerObj) {
-                    markerObj.setVisible(checked);
-                });
-            }});
-            if (group.checked) {
-                jQuery.each(group.markerObjs, function(i, markerObj) {
-                    markerObj.setVisible(true);
-                });
-            }
-        }
 
         //dataRoot['markers'] = [];
         //
@@ -508,6 +477,22 @@ overviewer.views.SignControlView = Backbone.View.extend({
                 dataRoot[i].created = true;
             }
         }
+        
+        // add some menus
+        for (i in dataRoot) {
+            var group = dataRoot[i];
+            this.addItem({group: group, action:function(this_item, checked) {
+                this_item.group.checked = checked;
+                jQuery.each(this_item.group.markerObjs, function(i, markerObj) {
+                    markerObj.setVisible(checked);
+                });
+            }});
+            if (group.checked) {
+                jQuery.each(group.markerObjs, function(i, markerObj) {
+                    markerObj.setVisible(true);
+                });
+            }
+        }
 
 
     },