Allegheny West in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Commercial Digital Computer Birthplace

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, March 14, 2011

1. Commercial Digital Computer Birthplace Marker

Inscription. BINAC, the world’s first commercial, electronic, stored program, digital computer passed verification tests here, at 3747 Ridge Ave., on April 7, 1949. Customer acceptance of UNIVAC I, the world’s first open market, commercial computer, followed on March 30, 1951. J. Presper Eckert and John W. Mauchly, co-inventors of ENIAC, led the development of both of these pioneering machines, which launched the commercial computer age.

Erected 2006 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1949.

Location. 40° 0.131′ N, 75° 11.217′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Allegheny West. It is on Ridge Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on Ridge Avenue, between W Hunting Park Avenue and W Indiana Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3747 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia PA 19132, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. 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,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rear Admiral John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Laurel Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (about 700 feet away); Gatehouse (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Laurel Hill Cemetery (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . .
1. Dedication Video ::. (Submitted on June 10, 2011.)
2. Commercial Digital Computer Birthplace - Behind the Marker.

Marker at 3747 Ridge Ave. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, March 14, 2011

2. Marker at 3747 Ridge Ave.

ExplorePAHistory.com (Submitted on July 21, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 2,069 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 14, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.