Shikellamy's Profile

Across the Susquehanna River, in the cliff above the opposite shore near the bridge, the face of Chief Shikellamy can be seen in profile, with his hairline, forehead, and nose visible. In colonial times, the Iroquois Indians claimed control of this valley by right of conquest and sent Shikellamy here during the mid-1700s to serve as their territorial administrator over other tribes living in the region. His efforts helped extend the peace that Pennsylvania founder William Penn established in the 1680s between Native Americans and European settlers. Shikellamy died in 1748 and was buried about a quarter mile north of here. A monument along North Front Street honors his memory near his grave, which is now unmarked.

Sunbury, Pennsylvania · United States