Fairmount Waterworks, East bank of Schuylkill River, Aquarium Drive, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Summary
See also HABS PA-1654 for additional documentation.
Significance: The Fairmount Water Works is perhaps the premier example of early nineteenth-century American industrial architecture. It was built to supply Philadelphia with a reliable source of fresh water. During its operational life the Fairmount Water Works employed a wide variety of hydraulic technologies including steam engines, wooden and cast iron breast wheels, and iron water turbines. Known as the "Mecca of hydraulic engineers" the Fairmount Water Works greatly influenced subsequent municipal water works development throughout the United States.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-2
Survey number: HAER PA-51
Building/structure dates: 1814- 1815 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1821- 1822 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1860- 1862 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1867- 1872 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1909- 1911 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: ca. 1950 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 76001662
Nothing Found.