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

The Great Treaty

Penn Treaty Park

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

1. The Great Treaty Marker

Inscription. There has been much debate over the exact details of Penn’s dealing with the Indians of the Delaware River Valley. It is written that Penn dealt fairly with all the Indians and settlers that he encountered. It is true that the Great Treaty, if it actually did occur, was one of many treaties that Penn made with the Indians. Making treaties with area Indians was a practice that went on in other settlements as well. However, Penn’s treatment of the Indians was consistently fair and equal. This theme of equality was noticed in Europe and created a new interest in the Colonies and great respect for Penn. Voltaire even spoke of the treaty as one that was “never sworn to and never broken”. It also provided the inspiration for a number of artistic representations of the treaty, the most famous being the one done by Benjamin West. Today we can see the one artifact of Penn’s amity-The wampum belt given to Penn by the Indians-on display at The Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 39° 58.007′ N,

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75° 7.72′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Fishtown. It is on North Beach Street. The marker is at the base of the William Penn statue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1301 N Beach St, Philadelphia PA 19125, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, 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: The Penn Society Obelisk (here, next to this marker); Penn Treaty Park: A Place of Peace (here, next to this marker); Fairman’s Mansion (here, next to this marker); The Great Elm (here, next to this marker); William Penn (a few steps from this marker); Penn Treaty Park (within shouting distance of this marker); On this site in 1682… (within

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

2. The Great Treaty Marker

shouting distance of this marker); Treaty Ground of William Penn (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

William Penn Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Don Morfe, May 16, 2015

3. William Penn Statue

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 483 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 19, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.