Near Punxsutawney in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Groundhog Day

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, March 19, 2006

1. Groundhog Day Marker

Inscription. As early as 1886, German immigrants here observed Groundhog Day and established the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club in 1899. According to folklore, if the hibernating groundhog—known as Punxsutawney Phil—leaves its burrow on February 2 and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. The legend is based on a European custom predicting the length of winter by weather conditions on Candlemas, an ancient Christian festival.

Erected 2004 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1859.

Location. 40° 55.877′ N, 78° 57.461′ W. Marker is near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in Jefferson County. It is at the intersection of Woodland Avenue Extension and Sportsman Park Road on Woodland Avenue Extension. It is located on site at Gobblers Knob. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Punxsutawney PA 15767, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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 one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: War Memorial (approx. one mile away); SFC Scott R. Smith (approx. one mile away); World War II Memorial (approx.

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one mile away); Presby MacPhil (approx. one mile away); Punxsutawney (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named War Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Indian Mill Stone (approx. 1.1 miles away); Barclay Square (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Punxsutawney.

Also see . . .
1. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. (Submitted on January 26, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
2. Groundhog Day - Behind the Marker. Explore PA History.com (Submitted on July 11, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, May 2, 2016

2. Groundhog Day Marker

Groundhog Day Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, May 2, 2016

3. Groundhog Day Sign

Behind Phil's doorway

Groundhog Day image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, May 2, 2016

4. Groundhog Day

Phil's doorway...to be opened on February 2

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 3,360 times since then and 58 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week January 30, 2011. Photos: 1. submitted on January 24, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 2, 2016, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.