William Penn Annex West in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

President Abraham Lincoln

Photographed By Larry Gertner, September 2014

1. President Abraham Lincoln Marker

Inscription. On February 21, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln, journeying to his inaugural, spoke from the balcony of the Continental Hotel, then on this site.
Referring to “the teachings coming forth from that sacred (Independence) hall,” he proclaimed:
“May my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if ever I prove false to those teachings”

On the hundredth anniversary, this plaque, dedicated by the Lincoln-Civil War Society of Phila. and the Civil War Centennial Commission of the City of Phila., was erected by the Benjamin Franklin Hotel.
February 21, 1961

Erected 1961 by Society of Phila. and the Civil War Centennial Commission of the City of Phila.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln series list.

Location. 39° 56.982′ N, 75° 9.321′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in William Penn Annex West. Memorial is at the intersection of Chestnut Street and s 9th Street, on the right when traveling east on Chestnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia PA 19107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Robert Patterson (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robert Bogle (about 400 feet away); Walnut Street Theatre (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named The Walnut Street Theatre (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Walnut Street Theatre (about 500 feet away); Philadelphia Electric Company (about 500 feet away); Siegmund Lubin (about 500 feet away); Robert Cornelius (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . Standing His Ground: Abraham Lincoln in Philadelphia. "The Philly History Blog" entry. (Submitted on April 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

<i>President-elect Abraham Lincoln raising a flag at Independence Hall, Philadelphia,...</i> image. Click for full size.

Frederick De Bourg Richards (photo courtesy the Library of Congress), November 11, 1997

2. President-elect Abraham Lincoln raising a flag at Independence Hall, Philadelphia,...

"...in honor of the new star added for the admission of Kansas to the Union on Washington's Birthday, February 22, 1861."

"Soldiers at attention and men and boys perched in the trees watch Lincoln hoist the stars and stripes at Independence Hall. Lincoln stands, hat off, directly above the single star on the extreme left of the draped flag. His son Tad, hat on, rests his arm on the rail above the cluster of stars on the right." The original image was taken during Lincoln's journey to Washington for the inauguration and is one of three images in the first set of photos of the president- elect, taken shortly after sunrise. - Library of Congress

"Lincoln arriving at the Continental Hotel" by Thomas Nast. image. Click for full size.

from "One Hundred Fifty Years Ago Today", February 11, 1861

3. "Lincoln arriving at the Continental Hotel" by Thomas Nast.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 366 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 5, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 2. submitted on January 25, 2019. 3. submitted on April 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.