Shipoke in Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Harris' Ferry

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2018

1. Harris' Ferry Marker

Inscription. On the river bank, a short distance west
of this stone, was the landing place of
Harris’ Ferry,
the most historic crossing place on the
Susquehanna. A great part of the early
migration into Western Pennsylvania and
the Ohio Valley passed this way.
The Ferry-right was first granted to
John Harris, father of the founder
of Harrisburg, in December, 1733. For
over half a century the site of
Harrisburg was known as
Harris’ Ferry.

Erected by
The Pennsylvania Historical Commission
September 24, 1915.

Erected 1915 by The Pennsylvania Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1733.

Location. 40° 15.358′ N, 76° 52.695′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Shipoke. It is on South Front Street south of Washington Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the north

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side of Riverfront Park, facing South Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 313 S Front St, Harrisburg PA 17104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 317 South Front Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Harrisburg Technical High School (within shouting distance of this marker); John Harris Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); John Harris Sr. Grave Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); John Harris / Simon Cameron Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker);

Harris' Ferry Marker (<i>tall view; marker faces South Front Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2018

2. Harris' Ferry Marker (tall view; marker faces South Front Street)

John Harris (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of John Harris (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

More about this marker. Marker is a large metal plaque, in Pennsylvania's "keystone" shape, mounted on a large boulder.

Also see . . .
1. History of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 1719, John Harris, Sr., an English trader, settled here and 14 years later secured grants of 800 acres in this vicinity. That same year, 1733, Harris was granted a license to operate a ferry, and the place was long afterwards known as Harris's Ferry. In 1785, John Harris, Jr., made plans to lay out a town on his father's land, which he named Harrisburg. In the spring of 1785, the town was formally surveyed by William Maclay, who was a son-in-law of John Harris, Sr. In the following year, the city was temporarily renamed Louisburg in honor of Louis XVI, who had been helpful during the American Revolution. But John Harris refused to sell the land for the county seat under these terms, and it was agreed that the new name would be Harrisburg, in honor of his father. (Submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Harris' Ferry, Pennsylvania.

Harris' Ferry Marker (<i>side view; showing very large boulder upon which the marker is mounted</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2018

3. Harris' Ferry Marker (side view; showing very large boulder upon which the marker is mounted)

John Harris (1673-1748), a native of Yorkshire, England, arrived in Philadelphia as one of the first emigrants to accompany William Penn. In approximately 1719, Harris moved with his wife Esther from Chester County to Lancaster County. They then eventually built a log cabin on the banks of the Susquehanna, near the present juncture of Paxton and Front streets. Harris, Sr. established the first ferry across the Susquehanna, which in time became so popular that that place was no longer called by its Indian name of Peixtan, but Harris' Ferry. (Submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Harris' Ferry Marker (<i>wide view; Riverfront Park & Susquehanna River in the background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2018

4. Harris' Ferry Marker (wide view; Riverfront Park & Susquehanna River in the background)

Old Railroad Bridge & Susquehanna River (<i>looking south from Harris' Ferry site</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2018

5. Old Railroad Bridge & Susquehanna River (looking south from Harris' Ferry site)

Old Railroad Bridge (<i>looking north from Harris' Ferry site</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 20, 2018

6. Old Railroad Bridge (looking north from Harris' Ferry site)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 3,851 times since then and 182 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.