Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Pennsylvania's capital since 1812. As Harris' Ferry, was settled a century before by John Harris Sr. Laid out as a town in 1785 by John Harris Jr. For over 200 years a center of travel, trade, and historic events.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Harrisburg grew from Harris' Ferry, a Susquehanna River crossing established by the trader John Harris Sr. in the early 1700s. His son, John Harris Jr., laid out the town in 1785, and in 1812 it became Pennsylvania's capital. Its position on a major river and travel route made it a hub of trade and government for more than two centuries.
Why it matters
Harrisburg's rise from a river ferry to a state capital traces how transportation crossings seeded many of America's inland cities.
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Related people
- · John Harris Sr.
- · John Harris Jr.
Related events
- · Founding of Harrisburg (1785)
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Harrisburg
Swatara Township, PA · est. 1946
What became Harrisburg started as Harris' Ferry, a Susquehanna River crossing established by trader John Harris Sr. in the early 1700s. His son John Harris Jr. laid out the town in 1785, and in 1812 it was chosen as Pennsylvania's capital. Astride a major river and trade corridor, it served as a center of travel and commerce for over two centuries.
Harris' Ferry - PLAQUE
Harrisburg, PA · est. 1915
On the banks of the Susquehanna here stood the landing of Harris' Ferry, first granted to John Harris in 1733 and for half a century the name by which the future Harrisburg was known. It was among the most important crossings in early Pennsylvania, funneling settlers, traders, and pack trains westward into the interior and on toward the Ohio Valley. From this modest ferry grew the city that would become the state capital.
John Harris Mansion
Harrisburg, PA · est. 1946
John Harris Jr., founder of Harrisburg, built this stone house in 1764–66 near his family's Susquehanna ferry. A century later it became the home of Simon Cameron, the powerful Pennsylvania politician who served as Abraham Lincoln's first Secretary of War, and it welcomed many prominent visitors. Today it houses the Dauphin County Historical Society.
Dauphin County
Harrisburg, PA · est. 1982
Established in 1785 from Lancaster County, Dauphin County took its name from the eldest son of France's King Louis XVI, a nod to the French alliance that had helped win American independence. Its seat, Harrisburg, was laid out that same year at a strategic crossing of the Susquehanna River. In 1812 Harrisburg became Pennsylvania's capital, and it was chartered a city in 1860, growing into the seat of state government.