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

"Associators"

Pennsylvania National Guard

— 1747 - 1997 —

"Associators" Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 12, 2009

1. "Associators" Marker

Inscription.

The Rampant Lion [Image of a lion with sword and shield] Crest of the the PA National Guard.

Near this site, the Associators, a group of citizen-soldiers organized by Benjamin Franklin and predecessor to the modern Pennsylvania National Guard, established the first Pennsylvania military installation to defend the colony and the port of Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania National Guard dedicates this monument to those patriots on our two hundred fiftieth anniversary.

Erected 1997 by Pennsylvania National Guard.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • Military • Notable Events • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 39° 58.011′ N, 75° 7.717′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Fishtown. Marker is at the south end of the Penn's Landing riverfront walkway, just north of Lombard Circle, south of the Moshulu floating restaurant and east of the Landing's parking lot off South Delaware Avenue/Columbus Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 South Columbia Boulevard, Philadelphia PA 19125, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William Penn (here, next to this marker); Fairman’s Mansion

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(here, next to this marker); Penn Treaty Park: A Place of Peace (here, next to this marker); The Great Treaty (a few steps from this marker); The Penn Society Obelisk (a few steps from this marker); The Great Elm (a few steps from this marker); Penn Treaty Park (within 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.

Also see . . . 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized) - "Associators". ...In the 18th century, the English colonies in America were under constant threat of invasion, either from the French, the Indians or the Spanish. The king of England organized units throughout the colonies to defend the inhabitants from various attacks. For the first 75 years of its existence, however, Pennsylvania was controlled by Quakers, who abhorred violence and resisted forming units.
In 1747, Philadelphia was under a serious threat of French privateers coming up the Delaware River. Benjamin Franklin, already a preeminent Philadelphia politician, recognized the need to create a defense force. Cognizant of the Quaker beliefs, he proposed

"Associators" Marker, lower left, center image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, May 12, 2009

2. "Associators" Marker, lower left, center

view northward along the riverwalk, toward the Independence Seaport Museum, with the historic bark, Moshulu (now preserved as a floating restaurant) moored to the right.

an association of volunteer militia to defend Philadelphia. Thus on December 7, 1747, the Associators were formed as Pennsylvania's first citizen militia. ... (Submitted on May 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Additional keywords. 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized); Penn's Landing; Moshulu.

Photographed By Carolyn Martienssen, August 29, 2014

3. "Associators" Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,431 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 17, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on August 16, 2015, by Carolyn Martienssen of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.