William Penn Landing Site facts for kids
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William Penn Landing Site
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William Penn Landing Site Monument, May 2010
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Penn and Front Sts., Chester, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1882 |
| Architect | Struthers, John |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000703 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 11, 1971 |
The William Penn Landing Site in Chester, Pennsylvania is a special place. It marks where William Penn first stepped onto the land that would become Pennsylvania. This happened on October 28 or 29, 1682. Penn was the founder of the area then known as the Province of Pennsylvania. He landed in the only town there, which was called Upland at the time.
A monument stands at this important spot. It was designed by John Struthers and put in place in 1882. In 1971, the landing site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a very important historical location.
How Pennsylvania Was Started
William Penn received a special document called a "charter" from King Charles II of England in 1681. This charter gave him permission to start the Province of Pennsylvania. Penn then chose William Markham to be his Deputy Governor. This meant Markham would govern the area until Penn arrived.
Markham traveled to the area in 1681. At that time, about 500 Europeans lived in the province. Most of them lived in what are now Delaware and Chester counties. These early settlers included people from Sweden and the Netherlands. Also, Quakers had started moving there around 1675.
Penn's Journey to America
William Penn sailed from England on a ship called the Welcome. He first arrived in America on October 27, 1682, in New Castle, Delaware. There, he took official ownership of the land in a ceremony. Just two days later, he traveled about 18 miles north on the Delaware River to Upland.
When Penn arrived in Upland, he quickly renamed the town Chester. He spent his first night in a log house owned by Robert Wade. This house was also used as the first meeting place for Quakers in the area.
The Landing Site Monument
The monument at the landing site is made of granite and stands about five feet tall. It has Penn's coat of arms on one side. Members of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Penn Club paid for the monument. They wanted to celebrate 200 years since Penn's landing.
Today, the monument is about 100 feet away from the Delaware River. Railroad tracks separate it from the river. It is located in an industrial part of Chester, just south of Chester Creek.
See also
In Spanish: Sitio del desembarco de William Penn para niños
