Historical Markers in
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

1st and 2nd Rhode Island Regiments 9/11 Memorial 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial A City of Huts A Pointed Defense Abington District World War I Memorial Abington Presbyterian Church Cemetery Abolition Hall Advance Redoubt All Aboard for Valley Falls American Icon Annie Wittenmyer Are the British Coming? Artillery Park Augustus Lutheran Church Bahr Arcade Bala Cynwyd World War I Memorial Barmouth Train Station Battery C, 166th Field Artillery Beth Sholom Synagogue Birds of a Feather Bryn Athyn Cathedral Bryn Athyn Cathedral Bryn Athyn Historic District Bryn Mawr Summer School for Women Workers in Industry Camp William Penn Camp William Penn Church Road and Washington Lane Historic Crossroad Commander in Chief’s Guards Crooked Billet Cyrus H. K. Curtis David Rittenhouse DeKalb's Division (Learned's Brigade) DeKalb’s Division Delaware Monument Did You Know? Duffy's Cut 57 Early Tavern Edward Hector Enos Benner Falkner Swamp Reformed Church First Assembly of Abington Friends Meeting First Iron Bridge Fort Washington Fox Chase and Rockledge World War Memorial Frank N.D. Buchman Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg Freemasons of Pennsylvania Freight Station - AAA East Penn G.A.R. Statue Gen. Andrew Porter Gen. Lachlan McIntosh George Washington Gilbert Motier DeLafayette Gladwyne Historic District Glencairn Glover’s Brigade Graham Post No. 106 G.A.R. Civil War Memorial Greene’s Division Greene’s Division Gulph Mills Village Hancock the Superb Hanover Lutheran Church Harold F. Pitcairn Harriton Hartranft Monument Hatboro World War I Memorial Headquarters Complex Helping Hands Henry Harley Arnold Historic Willow Grove Honor Roll Hope Lodge Hope Lodge Horsham Friends Meeting Meeting House Horsham Township Huntington’s Brigade In Memory IndenHofen Farmstead Innerline Defense Innerline Defense Ira Allen Is That an Eagle? James A. Bland John Dickinson John F. Hartranft Keith House Keystone Grange #2 Old Lodge Hall King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company #1 Charter Members Lafayette Lest We Forget Log City Loyal Patriots of Valley Forge Lucretia C. Mott Maine Major General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben Massachusetts Monument Melmar Memorial Hall, 1925 Merion Friends Meeting Merion Friends Meeting House Military Order of the Purple Heart Mill Creek: The Power of Water Mill Grove Mogeetown Montgomery County Civil War Memorial Montgomery County Court House Montgomery County Vietnam War Memorial Muhlenberg House National Patriots Bell Tower New Jersey Brigade North of the River Old Abington Church and Graveyard On the Lookout On the Wing Palm Patriots of African Descent Pencoyd Iron Works Pennypacker's Mill and Mansion Perkiomen Bridge Philadelphia and Columbia Railway Philadelphia Steam Engine Fire Co. #1 Philo T. Farnsworth Plymouth Friends Meetinghouse Pottsgrove Manor Pottsgrove Manor Pottstown Brewing Co. Pottstown Historical Society Pottstown War Memorial Protection from Attack Reading Passenger Station Reformed Church at Providence / Site of Stone Church 1835-1874 Remembering Valley Forge Reverend Samuel Finley Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in the Abington Presbyterian Church Graveyard Rittenhouse Farm Rittenhouse Farm Rittenhouse Observatory Schoolhouse Schrack’s Corner Sebastian A. Rudolph's Ashland Paper Mill Selma September 11 2001 Shoemaker-Bosler Mill Site Shoemaker-Bosler Mill Site Site of North Star Public School and Plymouth Township High School Site of Old Burial Ground Site of the Whitton / Miraglia House Soldiers of Washington's Army Soldiers’ Huts Somerset County PA-New York, NY-Washington, DC St. Clair Mansion St. Matthew Parish School Name Stone St. Paul's Episcopal Church St. Peter's Church Sullivan’s Division Switchback Bridge The Atkinson Family The Baldwin School The Camp’s Road System The Elks Home The Fountain House Inn, 1717 The Grand Parade The Grubb Mansion The Hill School The Manayunk Skyline The Manor House, ca. 1719 The National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge The Old Brick Church The PECO Building The Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women The Philadelphia & Columbia Railroad The Potts Family Burial Ground The Pottstown News The Red Lion Inn, 1776 The Security Trust Building The Shuler House The Spaventa Switchback The Village of Valley Forge The "S" Bridge & The Manayunk Bridge Thomas Rowland & Sons Shovel Works Timothy Matlack To Build a Redoubt Training for Victory Transformation of the American Army Transportation Corridor in Transition Union Conference Center Union Library Valley Creek Varnum’s Brigade Varnum’s Quarters Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Village of La Mott Vine Creek Wall House (The Ivy) War Comes to Valley Forge War Memorial Washington's Army Encampment Washington's Headquarters Washington’s Headquarters Washington’s Headquarters Waterman's Monument Weitzenkorn's Clothiers Welcome to Huntingdon Valley Station West Conshohocken Veteran Memorial West Laurel Hill Cemetery West Laurel Hill Train Station West Norriton Township World War Memorial Whitemarsh Why Valley Forge? William Clegg's Cotton Mill William White Willow Grove United Methodist Church, 1889 Winfield S. Hancock Winter Encampment Woodrow Wilson World War I Memorial World War II Honor Roll World Wars Memorial “Crowded and Very Sickly”
The first recorded U.S. flag-raising on foreign soil occurred in 1777, when the Stars and Stripes were flown during a naval battle off the coast of Quiberon Bay, France, commanded by Pennsylvania native John Paul Jones.
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has a rich history that dates back to its establishment in 1784. The county was named after General Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War hero. Prior to European settlement, the area was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Lenni Lenape.

During the colonial era, Montgomery County played a crucial role in the founding of the United States. Philadelphia, located within the county's borders, served as the temporary capital of the nation while Washington, D.C. was being constructed. Many notable historical events took place in the county, including the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

In the 19th century, Montgomery County experienced significant industrial growth. The region became renowned for its iron production, thanks to the presence of abundant natural resources such as iron ore and limestone. Industries like textiles, papermaking, and weaving also flourished during this time.

As the 20th century dawned, Montgomery County continued to evolve. The county experienced suburbanization and saw increased population growth, fueled by improved transportation infrastructure and the expansion of Philadelphia's urban sprawl. Today, Montgomery County is a vibrant and diverse community with a strong economy, excellent educational institutions, and numerous cultural and recreational amenities.

Overall, Montgomery County's history reflects its important contributions to the nation's development, from its colonial roots to its industrial past and modern-day prominence.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

  • 1682: William Penn receives the charter for Pennsylvania, including present-day Montgomery County.
  • 1683: The area that is now Montgomery County is settled by Welsh Quakers.
  • 1784: Montgomery County is officially established as a county by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  • 1791: The first courthouse is built in Norristown, which becomes the county seat.
  • 1804: The Main Line of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad is completed, boosting the county's economy.
  • 1832: Montgomery County Agricultural Society is founded to promote agricultural practices.
  • 1851: The Pennsylvania Railroad opens a line through Norristown, further improving transportation in the county.
  • 1879: Valley Forge becomes a national military park to commemorate the American Revolution.
  • 1906: Bryn Mawr College is founded in Lower Merion Township, becoming one of the county's premier educational institutions.
  • 1925: The Montgomery County Courthouse is rebuilt and expanded in Norristown.
  • 1950s: The county experiences rapid suburbanization due to its proximity to Philadelphia.
  • 1961: The Montgomery County Community College is founded in Blue Bell.
  • 1989: The King of Prussia Mall opens, becoming one of the largest shopping malls in the United States.
  • 2012: Montgomery County becomes the first county in Pennsylvania to allow same-sex marriage.