Kingsessing in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
John Bartram (1699 - 1777)
Historic Bartram's Garden preserves the 18th century home and botanical garden of the Bartrams—America's pioneering family of naturalists, botanists, and explorers.
John Bartram (1699 - 1777) born in nearby Darby to a Quaker family, moved to this farm on the Schuylkill River in 1728 and began cultivating a botanical garden. A widower with two children, Bartram married Ann Mendenhall in 1729 and together they raised nine children to adulthood.
Over the next several decades, he made numerous expeditions in search of plants and natural history specimens. Bartram traveled as far north as Lake Ontario, south to Florida, and west to the Ohio River. He shipped plants and seeds to other collectors at home and abroad. His international reputation as a plantsman attracted the notice of England's King George III who in 1765 appointed Bartram "His Majesty's Botanist for North America."
John Bartram developed a wide circle of acquaintances, both through his travels and correspondence: James Logan, colonial statesman and scholar; Benjamin Franklin with whom he founded the American Philosophical Society in 1743; Peter Collinson, a London Quaker and member of the Royal Society; and Peter Kalm, student of Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era
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Location. 39° 55.961′ N, 75° 12.731′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Kingsessing. Marker can be reached from Bartram Drive south of Harley Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia PA 19143, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bartram's Boxes (here, next to this marker); Bartram's Garden (here, next to this marker); Dialogue with Nature: The Bartram Contribution (here, next to this marker); William Bartram (1739 - 1823) (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Dialogue with Nature: The Bartram Contribution (here, next to this marker); Welcome to Philadelphia's River Garden (a few steps from this marker); Yellowwood (within shouting distance of this marker); Arbor (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
