Regardless Of The Future, A Piece Of Scotland's Past Remains In Philadelphia

By John Ostapkovich

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Scottish Independence Referendum is today. Regardless of what Scotland's voters decide, a little bit of that country will remain a part of the Philadelphia landscape.

Located on what amounts to be the roof of I-95 in the 100 block of South Front Street near Penn's Landing is the Scottish Memorial.

With a statue of a newly arrived family and several plaques about the history of memorial sponsor, the St. Andrew's Society, its neighbor is the Irish Memorial.

The St. Andrew's Society, named for the patron saint of Scotland, was founded in 1747 at Tun Tavern which was pretty much on the spot where the memorial stands. Its goal was to help less fortunate Scottish immigrants get settled, but only a few decades later, five members of the Society, fed up with Britain, signed the Declaration of Independence.

Tun Tavern, which no longer exists, is also considered the birthplace of the U.S. Marines. The first recruiting drive took place there in 1775.

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