National Historic Landmark

Fairmount Water Works

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
May 10, 1976
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76001662

About this property

The Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was Philadelphia's second municipal waterworks. Designed in 1812 by Frederick Graff and originally finished in 1815, it operated until 1909, winning praise for its design and becoming a popular tourist attraction. It now houses a restaurant and an interpretive center that explains the waterworks' purpose and local watershed history. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its architecture and its engineering innovations. It was the nation's first water supply to use paddle wheels to move water.

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.96707, -75.18550

Categories

ARTECONOMICSMILITARYTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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Nearby Historic Sites

Boat House Row
Industrial
0.1 mi
Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company Building
Industrial
0.3 mi
Scherer, Frank C., Wagon Works
Industrial
0.3 mi
City Park Brewery
Industrial
0.4 mi
Powelton Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
2.2 mi
Battle of Barren Hill
1778Revolutionary War
3.7 mi
Battle of Germantown (approach actions)
1777Revolutionary War
5.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fairmount Water Works listed on the National Register?

Fairmount Water Works was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 1976.

What type of historic resource is Fairmount Water Works?

Fairmount Water Works is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fairmount Water Works a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fairmount Water Works has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fairmount Water Works?

The period of significance for Fairmount Water Works is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Fairmount Water Works?

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