Penn Treaty Park facts for kids
Penn Treaty Park is a lovely park located on the western side of the Delaware River. You can find it in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The park is on Beach Street, close to Delaware Avenue.
This land was once part of a Lenape village called Shackamaxon. Here, in 1683, William Penn made a famous peace treaty with Tamanend. Tamanend was a chief of the Lenape Turtle Clan.
What You'll See at Penn Treaty Park
The southern part of the park has a nice walkway. This path goes around a big, open green area. It's a popular spot for people walking their dogs or having picnics.
The northern part of the park is shaded by many old, tall trees. You'll also find a statue of William Penn near the northern entrance. This statue was created by the artist Frank Gaylord.
From the river's edge, the park offers a clear view of the entire Benjamin Franklin Bridge. This large bridge connects Philadelphia to Camden, New Jersey. To the north of the park, there is a power station run by the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO). Penn Treaty Park has been an open space for everyone to enjoy since it officially opened on October 28, 1893.
The Park's History
In 1683, the area where the park now stands was part of the Lenape village of Shackamaxon. A very famous event happened here under a large elm tree. William Penn made a peace treaty with Tamanend, a chief of the Lenape Turtle Clan.
Penn was a Quaker, so he did not carry weapons. He spoke the Algonquian language. Penn said, "We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good-will; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love." Tamanend replied, "We will live in love with William Penn and his children as long as the creeks and rivers run, and while the sun, moon, and stars endure."
This peace between the Lenape Turtle Clan and Penn's people lasted for almost 100 years. The famous writer Voltaire even said it was "the only treaty never sworn to and never broken."
The original elm tree, where the treaty happened, fell during a storm in 1810. Soon after, a monument was placed where the tree once stood. This monument honored the treaty. The small monument was in a lumber yard until 1893. That year, people worked to buy the land and create the park we see today. The park officially opened on October 28, 1893.
After the original tree fell, some families saved cuttings and seedlings from it. They gave new trees grown from these to places like Pennsylvania Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania.
On May 6, 2010, a new elm tree was planted at Penn Treaty Park. This tree was a descendant of the original Treaty Elm. It was donated by the Haverford College Arboretum. The Friends of Penn Treaty Park helped pay for the tree and its planting. A blessing was given by Pastor Norwood from the Tribal Council of the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape.
