Fairmount Water Works, Philadelphia, about 1874.

The Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the nation's first municipal waterworks. Designed in 1812 by Frederick Graff and built between 1819 and 1822 it operated until 1909, winning praise for its design and becoming a popular tourist attraction. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and is once again in the process of winning back visitors, having now opened an Interpretive Center to aid in understanding the waterworks' purpose and history. Independence Hall Philadelphia (sometimes referred to as Philly or the City of Brotherly Love) is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, both in area and population. ... 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Independence Hall Philadelphia (sometimes referred to as Philly or the City of Brotherly Love) is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, both in area and population. ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... Sewage is domestic, municipal, or industrial liquid waste products. ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1819 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1822 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

History

Fairmount Water Works, Philadelphia, between 1860 and 1880.

Following a series of yellow fever epidemics in the late 1700s (which was at the time thought to be caused by unclean water) city leaders appointed a "Watering Committee" which eventually picked Frederik Graff to design a new waterworks, in order to provide clean water to city residents. Independence Hall Philadelphia (sometimes referred to as Philly or the City of Brotherly Love) is the fifth most populous city in the United States and the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, both in area and population. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The waterworks were constructed between 1819 and 1822 on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Steam power, then waterwheels, and later Jonval turbines were used to lift the water. Schuykill River dranage map The Schuylkill River, pronounced skookle (IPA: ), is an approximately 130 mile (209 km) long river whose watershed of around 2000 square miles (5,000 km²) lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. ... An overshot water wheel standing 42 feet high powers the Old Mill at Berry College in Rome, Georgia A water wheel (also waterwheel, Norse mill, Persian wheel or noria) is a hydropower system; a system for extracting power from a flow of water. ...

The facility, the industrial nature of which was disguised by a Greek Revival exterior, became a tourist attraction for its beauty and its location on the riverside. Visitors included Charles Dickens who praised it for its pleasant design and public usefulness. Personal residence of Catherine the Great Greek Revival was a style of classical architecture which became fashionable in Europe in the 18th century, and in the United Kingdom and United States in the early 19th century. ... Charles Dickens used his rich imagination, sense of humour and detailed memories, particularly of his childhood, to enliven his fiction. ...

The waterworks eventually closed in 1909, after years of service, when several newer and more technologically updated facilities were built.

Present Day

After the waterworks closed in 1909 the facility was used for several purposes, including the city aquarium (which closed in 1962) and later a swimming facility which closed in 1973. In more recent years attempts have been made to return the waterworks to its previous position as an engaging tourist attraction. Despite a severe fire which caused setbacks to the restoration, an interpretive center has now been added and tours are regularly given. Its position near Boathouse Row and the Philadelphia Museum of Art is hoped to aid in making it a regularly-visited tourist site once more. A 335,000 U.S. gallon (1. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... Boathouse Row is a Historic Site located in Philadelphia, PA on the banks of the Schuylkill River. ... The Philadelphia Museum of Art, located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphias Fairmount Park, was founded in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year and is now among the largest and most important art museums in the United States. ...

See Also

Fairmount Park Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one of the largest municipal public parks in the world, at over 9,100 acres (37 km²). This figure includes all parkland within the city limits, as all 65 city parks are considered part of Fairmount Park and overseen by the Fairmount Park Commission...

External Links

Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center

Philadelphia Inquirer article

Friends of the Wissahickon article