Central Downtown Historic District in Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Founding Convention of the AFL

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 11, 2020

1. Founding Convention of the AFL Marker

Inscription. On November 15, 1881, in nearby Turner Hall, a convention was held to form the organization which became the American Federation of Labor. Soon it was the nation's largest labor federation. It became part of the merged AFL-CIO in 1955.

Erected 1997 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1892.

Location. 40° 26.464′ N, 79° 59.811′ W. Marker is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in Allegheny County. It is in the Central Downtown Historic District. It can be reached from the intersection of Sixth Avenue and William Penn Place, on the right when traveling south. Marker was previously located in Mellon Square Park in Downtown Pittsburgh. It has been moved outside the park to the sidewalk on the corner of Sixth Avenue and William Penn Place. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pittsburgh PA 15219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Ohio River Valley,

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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Allegheny HYP Club (Harvard-Yale-Princeton Club) (within shouting distance of this marker); Mellon Square (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Strawberry Way

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(about 300 feet away); The First Society of Methodists in Pittsburgh (about 300 feet away); Smithfield Congregational Church (about 400 feet away); First English Evangelical Lutheran Church (about 400 feet away); Mark W. Melcher Memorial (about 400 feet away); Mellon Bank (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburgh.

Also see . . . Founding Convention of the AFL - Behind the Marker. (Submitted on June 29, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, June 1, 2015

2. Founding Convention of the AFL Marker

Marker at its new location.

Photographed by Mike Wintermantel, March 15, 2011

3. Founding Convention of the AFL Marker

Previous location in Mellon Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,005 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 15, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on June 1, 2015, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on March 15, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.