Pennsylvania Day
Pennsylvania Day
Pennsylvanians have always held large celebrations on major anniversaries of Penn's birth, and in 1932 the governor proclaimed October 24 as William Penn Commemoration Day, or simply Penn Day . This day was also commemorated with a special pageant held in Jordans, Buckinghamshire, England, where Penn and his family are buried. Since that time celebrations have tended to be local rather than statewide. In recent decades, the week of October 24 has been celebrated as Pennsylvania Week .
Any observation using his name would undoubtedly have made William Penn turn over in his grave, as he was outspoken in his opposition to the practice of naming streets, cities, states, or anything else after people.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
State Museum Bldg., 30 North St.
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-787-3362; fax: 717-783-9924
www.portal.state.pa.us
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 709
BkDays-1864, vol. II, p. 60
DictDays-1988, p. 91
DictWrldRel-1989, p. 564