Fairmount water works in philadelphia second municipal. This is a print of an original watercolor painting by ellie moniz. If you need a copy of an older water bill, please contact the water revenue department at 215 6856300. Philadelphia museum of art and water works ellie moniz. The water works, centre square, philadelphia library of. The philadelphia cookbook by philadelphia uk the works. Celebrating its 18th season, one book, one philadelphia is a signature program of the free library that promotes literacy, library usage, and civic dialogue by encouraging the entire greater philadelphia area to come together through reading and discussing a single.
I give tours at the fairmount water works in philadelphia, so i read this book with great interest. You can also visit us in the municipal services building concourse level at 1401 john f. Fairmount water works interpretive education center. The philadelphia aquarium at the fairmount water works. Aug 23, 2016 philadelphia, the city where the constitution was written, is known as the birthplace of american democracy. Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and. A 1924 book by john frederick lewis, about the deplorable state of the river below. While we may hear about benjamin franklin or the liberty bell in history classes, this reading list is for the history buff who wants to dig a little deeper into the rich past of this incredible city. In the first year of the waterpowered system, the works operated at a profit for the first time in its nearly twentyfive years. Water works can prepare pasta dishes at the ravioli bar or create many asian specialties at the asian station. United states of america buy united states of america flags at. Portions of the content on this web page were adapted from a copy of the original national register of historic places nomination document the water works at fairmount is an engineering triumph as well as an architectural treasure. Following the closure of the fairmount water works plant in 1909, the site took on new life as home to an aquarium from 1911 to 1962. In the latter half of the 19th century, another major first took place at the fairmount water works.
This activity is designed to introduce students to the environmental consequences of industrial and urban development in the late 19th century. May 27, 2016 but the medical history of the city is so often overlooked, it makes books like cristin okeefe aptowiczs dr. The fairmount water works was designated as a national historic landmark in 1976. The first water system in philadelphia was proposed by the delaware and schuylkill canal company, whose 1792 charter included the right to supply water to the city of philadelphia. Despite being averse to history, ive recently decided to start learning more about both philadelphia and the united states. The first began when philadelphias municipal water systemthe first of its kind anywhere in the modern worldwas moved to fairmount and enlarged. Department stores books 1 16 of 62 total 16 per page. This will enable visitors to learn what was there and how it worked. Today, the fairmount water works has become the regions premier urban environmental education destination. Fairmount water works, 18121815, 18191822, 1851, 18591862, 18681872. I have a longer list of books about philadelphia with a good reputation here there is a lot of reading to be done about philadelphia. Philly publisher celebrates early works of pioneering.
Enjoy the romantic atmosphere with a filet mignon, roasted prime rib, orange braised short ribs or a seafood dish, such as grilled salmon with crab or chilean sea bass. A european traveler in 1836 wrote that it was well worth a vis. Here for the first time are 110 fabulous recipes from the philly team, from party bites, breads and bagels, soups and light lunches, to salads, pasta, fish and seafood dishes, chicken, rice and risotto, and of course lots of sweet. Department stores history books at arcadia publishing. Philadelphia, the city where the constitution was written, is known as the birthplace of american democracy. The city served off and on as the official capital of the young country until 1800, and was also the site of the first american university, hospital, medical college, bank, paper. This book assembles essays from a variety of authors and covers philadelphias colonial period to. Students will learn about the devastating effects of industrial waste on the drinking water supply of philadelphia in the late 19th century and about the solutions employed to improve public health. Read about the early history of pennsylvania, its oil history, its cultural evolution, and much more. The philadelphia water department is the public water utility for the city of philadelphia. The reservoir, fairmount water works, philadelphia. Philadelphia pennsylvania waterworks documentary history of. Choose our history of pennsylvania books at arcadia publishing.
At the philadelphia water works, we discovered they used the natural forces of gravity and water itself to distribute this precious commodity across the city. This company advertised for iron pipes in 1796 and attempted to secure financial support from the city and state. Let me show you the 10 books you have to read if youre from, living in or going to the philadelphia region, including a handful of which you should read regardless of geography. The city of philadelphia s photo archive contains approximately 2 million photographic records that date from the late 1800s. Situated on the east bank of the schuylkill river between historic boathouse row and the philadelphia museum of art, the fairmount water works opened its doors in 1815 as the nations first major urban water supply system. Located on the east bank of the schuylkill river, the water works provided clean water for homes and businesses in the city until it ceased operations in 1909. In 1819 an opportunity presented itself that seemed to be the solution to the citys watersupply problem both for the present and for the futureconverting fairmount water works to water power, a most inexpensive source of power.
In this 1838 view of the fairmount water works from the summit of fairmount, visitors look down from the mercury pavilion to the mill house and schuylkill river beyond. From january 22 to march 18, nearly 100 events and programs will center on tommy oranges awardwinning novel, there there. Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia fairmount water works. From that time, the works delivered water to the city, as dickens said, at a very trifling expense. Fairmount water works one of the most iconic landmarks of philadelphia, the fairmount water works is a stunning site. Archive photos which have been assigned a geographic location are also searchable by proximity to an address, intersection, place name, or neighborhood. While many programs scheduled through the end of may are cancelled or postponed, others will proceed virtually. The two most important documents in the history of the united states, the declaration of independence and the constitution, were drafted and signed in philadelphia. It now houses a restaurant and an interpretive center that explains the waterworks purpose and local watershed history.
We recommend booking fairmount water works interpretive education center tours ahead of time to secure your spot. For more than two centuries, philadelphia s fairmount water works provided two vitally important, but different, services to the city. A philadelphia image from an excellent series of views of pennsylvania from a guide book of pennsylvanias scenery, internal improvements, resources, and agriculture, popularly described. Historical consultant, philadelphia water department. Photography collection, the new york public library. It provides wastewater service to the city and to 10 municipalities and authorities located in montgomery, delaware and bucks counties. The pennsylvania center for the book fairmount water works. Fairmount waterworks, philadelphia, pa, 1848 giclee print by augustus kollner. Philaplace the fairmount water works disease and the. Students will learn about the devastating effects of industrial waste on the drinkingwater supply of philadelphia in the late 19th century and about the solutions employed to improve public health. All archive photos may be searched by keyword and date. Here are 10 books about philly history to get you started.
City water, city life is a gem of a book, a tightly focused meditation. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Opened in 1815, the fairmount water works was the center of philadelphias water distribution system for nearly a century. This catalogue, which includes thousands of books, pamphlets, photographs. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. I give tours at the fairmount water works in philadelphia, so i read this book. Welcome to the philadelphia water department historical collection. The water works, centre square, philadelphia summary print shows an exterior view of the front entrance and the side facade of the pump house at centre square for the philadelphia waterworks.
Water power at fairmount the first step in constructing a water powered system at fairmount involved damming the schuylkill river. Especially notable is the chart, reproduced as appendix c, which gives a oneofakind graphic summary of all this information. Fairmount water works from eli bowens the pictorial sketchbook of pennsylvania. Prints are made using high quality, acid free paper and archival inks and displayed in a white mat. List of books and articles about pennsylvania history. Designed in 1812 by frederick graff and built between 1812 and 1872, it operated until 1909, winning praise for its design and becoming a popular tourist attraction. Union water works, commonly known as water works, is an unincorporated community in north annville township, lebanon county, pennsylvania, united states the community was originally called alger, located at a crossing of the swatara creek. During the early 19th century it became a point of interest along the union canal, which connected the schuylkill river to the susquehanna river. In 1819 an opportunity presented itself that seemed to be the solution to the citys water supply problem both for the present and for the futureconverting fairmount water works to water power, a most inexpensive source of power. An interpretive center focusing on the history of fairmount water works and the value of a city water supply is planned as part of the restoration effort. While many know philadelphia as the site of the first zoo in the united states, the story of the philadelphia aquarium, once among the largest in the world, is a less wellknown part of the citys history.
The water works has a small theater, which shows a continuous video of the history of the philadelphia water system. Harrisburg, pa 17102 dauphin county buy pennsylvania state flags at. The fairmount water works in philadelphia, pennsylvania was philadelphias second municipal waterworks. Sep 30, 2017 at the philadelphia water works, we discovered they used the natural forces of gravity and water itself to distribute this precious commodity across the city. City and suburbs in the railroad age historical studies of urban. Of the new permits issued during the year, there were 4,985 for new buildings, making the total premises on the books 172,833, of which there are supplied with water 151,853, or 88 per cent. An introduction to philadelphia invites visitors to explore the citys history in an engaging, first person style, and to use their mobile device to add their own philadelphia descriptions via text message a visual and dynamic tag cloud displays the collected descriptions on a monitor on the exhibitions final panel. The place has an amazing architecture and glorious history.
A 300year history traces the political, artistic, physical, and social evolution of the city and illumines its very special spirithow it has. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. The fairmount water works in philadelphia, pennsylvania was philadelphia s second municipal waterworks. A 300year history traces the political, artistic, physical, and social evolution of the city and illumines its very special spirithow it has changed in response to the demands of three centuries, and how, in many fascinating respects, it has remained the same as it was in william penns day. The philadelphia water department has been providing water to citizens since 1801, when, in the aftermath of a series of devastating yellow fever epidemics that killed thousands of people, the city decided it needed a source of water to cleanse the streets, fight fires, and for household purposes. Full of anecdotal details, engravings, with a great index that picks up the names of prominent local persons, taverns, etc. July 19, 2016 philly publisher celebrates early works of pioneering comic book artist lost works of will eisner discovered by n.
Philadelphia water works 1793 by miranda nagel on prezi. Steam engines pumped water up to reservoirs on top of the hill which was the largest hill close to the city, and the current location of the philadelphia museum of art. Water is currently provided by the city of philadelphia water department, which. The water works restaurant is celebrating its seventh anniversary this sunday, july 21st by offering its sunday brunch foobooz 5 spots for waterfront dining. A 300year history traces the political, artistic, physical. Fairmount water works, philadelphia contributor names detroit publishing co. The fairmount water works in philadelphia, pennsylvania was philadelphias second. Watercolor painting of philadelphia museum of art and waterworks. Water power at fairmount the first step in constructing a waterpowered system at fairmount involved damming the schuylkill river.
City water, city life speaks from history to this contemporary moment when the united states confronts, yet again, the debate. Jun 03, 2010 while many know philadelphia as the site of the first zoo in the united states, the story of the philadelphia aquarium, once among the largest in the world, is a less wellknown part of the citys history. The water department, which began water system service in 1801, supplies water to the city of philadelphia and a portion of bucks county. The city of philadelphias photo archive contains approximately 2 million photographic records that date from the late 1800s. Fairmount water works, philadelphia library of congress. Schuylkill water works philadelphia due to the ongoing impact of covid19, all free library locations will remain closed to the public until safety concerns have subsided. This catalog includes thousands of books, pamphlets, photographs and other material. See all 2 fairmount water works interpretive education center tours on tripadvisor.
This book assembles essays from a variety of authors and covers philadelphias colonial period to around 1975. In this book, the first comprehensive history of philadelphia to be written in nearly threequarters of a century, the reader will discover a rich and colorful portrait of one of americas most vital, interesting, and illustrious cities. But the medical history of the city is so often overlooked, it makes books like cristin okeefe aptowiczs dr. While the steam engines at the fairmount water works were betterdesigned than those at centre square, they were still.