William Penn Annex East in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Peale’s Mastodon, 2017
American Philosophical Society Museum
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017
1. Peale’s Mastodon, 2017 Marker
In 1801, Charles Willson Peale excavated a mastodon skeleton in upstate New York. Afterwards, he made this painting that shows how he did it. Eventually Peale displayed the skeleton in his Philadelphia Museum. In this garden, you see an artist’s interpretation of how Peale would have put the skeleton together.
To learn more about Peale and his curious family, visit the APS Museum across the street. It’s in the same building where Peale had his Philadelphia Museum.
Erected 2017.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Paleontology.
Location. 39° 56.917′ N, 75° 8.952′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex East. Marker is on South 5th Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 104 S 5th St, Philadelphia PA 19106, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American Philosophical Society (a few steps from this marker); The Signer (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Signer (within shouting distance of this marker); Philosophical Hall
this page online
More about this marker. The painting, Exhumation of the Mastodon, by Charles Willson Peale, 1806-1808, courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society, appears at the top of the marker.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017
2. Peale’s Mastodon, 2017 Marker
Two identical markers can be seen on each side of the garden gate.
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017
3. Peale’s Mastodon, 2017 Marker
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 25, 2017
4. Reproduction of Peale’s Mastodon
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2016
5. Exhumation of the Mastodon
This 1806-1808 painting by Charles Wilson Peale hangs in the Museum of the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore Maryland. C. W. Peale and members of his famous family can be seen on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2017, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 262 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 31, 2017, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 5. submitted on January 8, 2021, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
