Scottish Memorial
As early as in the thirteenth century, many Scots emigrated to northern Europe in search for a better life. Most ended up in Germany or Scandinavia. Later, in particular during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when many in Scotland suffered from famine and political unrest, emigration accelerated.

As a result of the Union of England and Scotland in 1707 the Scots had become part of the British Empire, which made it easier to emigrate to the British colonies across the Atlantic. Many of those in search for a new life departed for Philadelphia, at the time one of the largest cities in North America. Today there are millions of people on the continent claiming full Scottish descent.

The Monument
The monument, which was dedicated on October 8, 2011, depicts an oft-observed scene of Scottish immigration.  It was common for a family or a group of families to send someone in advance to venture into the unknown territory in America and scout it out, claim land for those following and do the necessary so that those following would be able to move towards an established settlement on arrival.  In the scene depicted on the monument, there is a young man already outfitted as a colonial from the frontier.  He has arrived in advance of his father and the young man’s wife and children who are now joining him.  He has met them upon their landing.  They are climbing up from the docks to Front Street, where Tun Tavern was located.  There, they will meet with members of the St. Andrew’s Society who will provide for their immediate needs and help them on their way. This family appears to be well off.  However, many Scottish immigrants arrived with nothing but the clothes on their back and in great need of assistance.  The Society was founded to help indigent Scots in 1747 in the wake of the failed Bonnie Prince Charlie uprising when many Scots, particularly highlanders, were displaced.

Signing of the Declaration of Independence
The 56 men and the 13 colonies who signed the Declaration were almost entirely of British family origin. 38 were firmly established as being of English extraction, eight Irish, five Welsh, four pure Scottish and one Swedish. The four standing in the bas relief on the Memorial of the signing were members of the St. Andrews Society.


Tun Tavern
Nearby the monument, a stone with a commemorative plaque marks the site where the tavern once stood. The tavern was quite famous in its day. This was not only the site of the founding of the St. Andrew's Society but it is also considered the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps, which held its first recruitment drive here in 1775, during the American Revolution.