Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Rittenhouse Town

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

1. Rittenhouse Town Marker

Inscription.
William Rittenhouse, first Mennonite minister in America, erected here in 1690 the colonies’ first paper mill. Successive generations of Rittenhouses built additional mills, establishing this region as the center of American papermaking. By the 1850s this village had over 40 buildings, and seven early buildings survive from this once prosperous industrial community. Scientist David Rittenhouse was born here in 1732.

Erected 1990 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1690.

Location. 40° 1.753′ N, 75° 11.41′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Wissahickon Valley Park. Marker is on Lincoln Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is accessible from the parking area for Rittenhouse Town off Lincoln Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1690 Lincoln Dr, Philadelphia PA 19144, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. David Rittenhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Rittenhouse Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Colonial Herb Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The Jacob Rittenhouse Home at RittenhouseTown (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Germantown (within shouting distance of this marker); Rittenhousetown Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Mary Davis Ridgway (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ten Box Shelter (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Also see . . . Historic RittenhouseTown – A National Landmark District. (Submitted on October 5, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

2. Rittenhouse Town Marker

Marker on Lincoln Drive image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

3. Marker on Lincoln Drive

Rittenhouse Homestead circa 1690 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

4. Rittenhouse Homestead circa 1690

Abraham Rittenhouse Home circa 1720 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

5. Abraham Rittenhouse Home circa 1720

Surviving Buildings at Rittenhouse Town image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, October 5, 2013

6. Surviving Buildings at Rittenhouse Town

The Jacob Rittenhouse Home, circa 1811 (left) and the Enoch Rittenhouse Home, circa 1845 are seen here.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 534 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 5, 2013, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.