Fairmount Waterworks, East bank of Schuylkill River, Aquarium Drive, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

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Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey

36 drawings
162 b&w photos
199 data pages
13 photo caption pages
12 color transparencies

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TITLE:
Fairmount Waterworks, East bank of Schuylkill River, Aquarium Drive, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

CALL NUMBER:
HAER PA,51-PHILA,328-

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
[See Call Number]

MEDIUM:
Measured Drawing(s): 36 (24 x 36 in.)
Photo(s): 162 (4 x 5 in. and 5 x 7 in.)
Data Page(s): 198 plus cover page
Photo Caption Page(s): 13
Color Transparencies: 12

DATE:
Documentation compiled after 1968.

CREATOR:
Historic American Engineering Record, creator

NOTE:
Survey number HAER PA-51

Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-2).

Building/structure dates: 1814 initial construction

Building/structure dates: 1821 subsequent work

Building/structure dates: 1860 subsequent work

Building/structure dates: 1867 subsequent work

Building/structure dates: 1909 subsequent work

Building/structure dates: 1950 subsequent work

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 76001662

Significance: The Fairmount Water Works is perhaps the premier example of early 19th 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.

SUBJECTS:
PENNSYLVANIA--Philadelphia County--Philadelphia
building deterioration
civil engineering
historic sites

OTHER TITLE:
Fairmount Park

COLLECTION:
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)

REPOSITORY:
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGID:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.pa0837

CONTENTS:
Photograph caption(s):
1. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST, SHOWING WATER WORKS SITE AND PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART ON HILL ABOVE
2. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST, COMPREHENSIVE SITE VIEW
3. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING SOUTH DOWN SCHUYLKILL RIVER
4. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING NORTH
5. AERIAL VIEW LOOKING NORTH SHOWING PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART, SITE OF FORMER MAIN STORAGE RESERVOIR
6. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST FROM GAZEBO TERRACE, OVERALL VIEW OF SITE
7. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH FROM TERRACE, SHOWING RIVER FACADE OF WATER WORKS
8. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH, SHOWING NORTH ENTRANCE HOUSE AND CENTRAL PAVILION, WITH SOUTH ENTRANCE HOUSE AND ENGINE HOUSE BEYOND
9. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH FROM NORTH ENTRANCE HOUSE TERRACE, SHOWING PAVILION
10. VIEW LOOKING NORTH ALONG TERRACE, FROM PAVILION TO NORTH WING
11. VIEW LOOKING NORTHWEST TOWARD DAM, SHOWING TERRACES AND NORTH WING PORTICO
12. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH FROM PAVILION, SHOWING SOUTH ENTRANCE HOUSE, SOUTH WING, AND ENGINE HOUSE
13. VIEW LOOKING NORTH ALONG ENGINE HOUSE TERRACE, SHOWING COLONNADE
14. VIEW LOOKING NORTHWEST FROM ROOF OF ENGINE HOUSE, SHOWING CARETAKER'S HOUSE CUPOLA AND PAVILION (4' x 5' negative)
15. VIEW LOOKING EAST, SHOWING RETAINING WALL ON EAST SIDE OF PARK, SOUTH OF ENGINE HOUSE (4' X 5' negative)
16. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH, SHOWING FOUNTAIN IN PARK SOUTH OF ENGINE HOUSE
17. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST, SHOWING GRAFF MEMORIAL IN PARK SOUTH OF ENGINE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
18. VIEW LOOKING WEST, LAND FACADE OF ENGINE HOUSE
19. VIEW LOOKING WEST, 3/4 ELEVATION OF ENGINE HOUSE
20. DETAIL VIEW, STAIRCASE HOUSING ON SOUTH ELEVATION OF ENGINE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
21. DETAIL VIEW, CENTRAL DOORWAY OF LAND FACADE OF ENGINE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
22. DETAIL VIEW, SOUTH DOORWAY OF LAND FACADE OF ENGINE HOUSE
23. DETAIL VIEW, WINDOW TO LEFT OF CENTRAL DOORWAY, FIRST FLOOR, LAND ELEVATION OF ENGINE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
24. DETAIL VIEW, WINDOW ON SOUTH SIDE ELEVATION OF ENGINE HOUSE
25. DETAIL VIEW, THIRD FLOOR WINDOW OF ENGINE HOUSE, LAND ELEVATION (4' x 5' negative)
26. INTERIOR VIEW OF 'Saloon', MAIN ROOM OF ENGINE HOUSE (FORMER TURBINE SPACE)
27. INTERIOR DETAIL VIEW OF 'Saloon', SHOWING WALL, DOOR AND WINDOW MOLDINGS (4' x 5' negative)
28. INTERIOR DETAIL VIEW, WINDOW OF 'Saloon'
29. INTERIOR DETAIL VIEW, STAIRCASE TO AQUARIUM, NORTH WING OF ENGINE HOUSE
30. INTERIOR VIEW, SECOND FLOOR OF ENGINE HOUSE SHOWING STAIR TO ATTIC
31. INTERIOR VIEW, SECOND FLOOR OF ENGINE HOUSE
32. INTERIOR VIEW, ATTIC OF ENGINE HOUSE
33. DETAIL VIEW, MASONRY END WALL CONSTRUCTION, ATTIC OF ENGINE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
34. INTERIOR VIEW, FRAMING IN ATTIC OF ENGINE HOUSE
35. DETAIL VIEW, ATTIC FRAMING IN ENGINE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
36. VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST, SHOWING HYPHEN CONNECTOR BETWEEN ENGINE HOUSE AND CARETAKER'S COTTAGE (4' x 5' negative)
37. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHWEST, 3/4 ELEVATION OF CARETAKER'S COTTAGE (4' x 5' negative)
38. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH, LATERAL ELEVATION OF CARETAKER'S COTTAGE FROM ENTRANCE HOUSE TERRACE (4' x 5' negative)
39. DETAIL VIEW OF PORTICO OF CARETAKER'S COTTAGE, SHOWING BALUSTRADE AND COLUMN BASE (4' x 5' negative)
40. DETAIL VIEW OF PORTICO DOORWAY OF CARETAKER'S COTTAGE (4' x 5' negative)
41. VIEW LOOKING WEST, LAND ELEVATION OF SOUTH ENTRANCE HOUSE
42. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH, LATERAL ELEVATION OF SOUTH ENTRANCE HOUSE
43. VIEW LOOKING WEST, SHOWING PAVILION
44. DETAIL VIEW, PAVILION COLUMN BASE (4' x 5' negative)
45. VIEW LOOKING WEST, LAND ELEVATION OF NORTH ENTRANCE HOUSE (4' x 5' negative)
46. VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST, 3/4 ELEVATION OF NORTH ENTRANCE HOUSE
47. VIEW LOOKING NORTH, LATERAL ELEVATION OF NORTH ENTRANCE HOUSE
48. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH, LATERAL ELEVATION OF NORTH WING
49. VIEW LOOKING NORTHWEST, 3/4 ELEVATION OF NORTH WING
50. VIEW LOOKING WEST, SHOWING SOUTH LATERAL FACADE OF NORTH WING
51. VIEW LOOKING WEST, LAND ELEVATION OF NORTH WING (4' X 5' negative)
52. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST, RIVER FACADE OF NORTH WING (4' x 5' negative)
53. VIEW LOOKING SOUTH, SHOWING PORTICO OF NORTH WING WITH PAVILION AND ENGINE HOUSE IN BACKGROUND
54. LATERAL VIEW LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING PORTICO OF NORTH WING
55. LATERAL VIEW LOOKING NORTH SHOWING NORTH WING (4' x 5' negative)
56. DETAIL VIEW OF NORTH WING SHOWING CORNICE AND STONEWORK (4' x 5' negative)
57. DETAIL VIEW OF CORNICE FRAMING OF NORTH WING (4' x 5' negative)
58. VIEW LOOKING NORTHWEST SHOWING UPPER TERRACE AND DAM
59. DETAIL VIEW LOOKING SOUTHEAST, SHOWING UPPER TERRACE ABUTMENT FROM LOWER TERRACE
60. VIEW LOOKING NORTHEAST, GENERAL ELEVATION OF GAZEBO
61. VIEW LOOKING SOUTHWEST FROM GAZEBO TO RIVER
62. DETAIL VIEW OF GAZEBO TERRACE SHOWING BALUSTRADE, OVERLOOKING RIVER AND DAM
63. INTERIOR VIEW OF SWIMMING POOL, UNDERNEATH UPPER TERRACE (4' x 5' negative)
64. INTERIOR VIEW OF AQUARIUM LOOKING SOUTH, SHOWING DISPLAY TANKS AQUARIUM LOCATED BELOW NORTH AND SOUTH WINGS AND PAVILION
65. INTERIOR VIEW OF AQUARIUM LOOKING NORTH
66. INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING CONCRETE HOLDING TUBS
67. INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING AQUARIUM TUBS ON WEST SIDE OF BUILDING
68. INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING NORTH, SHOWING VAULTED TUNNEL BENEATH ENGINE HOUSE
69. INTERIOR VIEW OF ARCH OF BRIDGE OVER ORIGINAL HEADRACE (now in basement in front of north wing) (4' x 5' negative)
70. INTERIOR VIEW LOOKING NORTH IN BOILER ROOM BENEATH NORTH ENTRANCE (4' x 5' negative)
71. DETAIL VIEW OF WATER PIPE RUNNING FROM PUMP ROOM IN ENGINE HOUSE EASEMENT
72. DETAIL VIEW OF REMAINING PIPE TO RESERVOIR
73. INTERIOR VIEW IN BASEMENT OF ENGINE HOUSE WITH CURVED WALL OF STAIRCASE TO RIGHT
74. INTER/OR VIEW OF 1851 JONVAL PUMPING MECHANISM
75. DETAIL VIEW SHOWING EXHAUST AIR CHAMBER (4' x 5' negative)
76. DETAIL VIEW OF PUMPING MECHANISM
77. INTERIOR VIEW OF TURBINE MECHANISM BELOW CARETAKER'S HOUSE
78. INTERIOR VIEW SHOWING TURBINE GEARS
79. DETAIL VIEW OF TURBINE GEARS
80. DETAIL OF TURBINE GEARS (4' x 5' negative)
81. DAGUERREOTYPE VIEW OF WATER WORKS, CA. 1845 Collection of the Franklin Institute
82. VIEW OF WATER WORKS FROM THE WEST, CA. 1855 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
83. VIEW OF TURBINE AND PUMPS DURING CONSTRUCTION, 1868 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
84. VIEW OF WATER WORKS FROM THE SOUTHWEST, CA. 1869-70 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
85. VIEW OF THE MILL SOUSE DURING CONSTRUCTION, CA. 1870 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
86. VIEW LOOKING EAST OF THE REMODELED MILL HOUSE WITH THE NEW MILL HOUSE TO THE LEFT, CA. 1872 Collection of the Fairmount Park Commission
87. VIEW OF WATER WORKS FROM THE WEST, CA. 1875 Collection of the Fairmount Park Commission
88. VIEW OF THE PAVILION AND SUSPENDED WATER MAIN ACROSS THE FOREBAY, CA. 1875 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
89. VIEW OF THE REMODELED MILL HOUSE FROM THE SOUTH, CA. 1875 Collection of the Fairmount Park Commission
90. VIEW OF THE HEAD ARCHES AND FAIRMOUNT POND, CA. 1875 Collection of the Fairmount Park Commission
91. VIEW OF FAIRMOUNT POND FROM THE SOUTHEAST, CA. 1875 Collection of the Fairmount Park Commission
92. VIEW OF STANDPIPE AND ARCH, CA. 1875 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
93. VIEW; OF THE WATER WORKS, RESERVOIRS, DAM AND PARK FROM LEMON HILL, CA. 1880 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
94. VIEW OF THE ENGINE HOUSE FROM THE SOUTHEAST, CA. 1880 Collection of the Fairmount Park Commission
95. VIEW OF THE WATER WORKS AND THE 'BRIDGE OF SIGHS', CA. 1821 Engraved by C. Woodward, Jr. Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
96. VIEW OF THE DAM AND WATER WORKS, 1824 Thomas Birch, Engraver; Published by E. Tucker Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
97. VIEW OF THE WATER WORKS FROM THE EAST, 1829 George Lehman, Lithographer; Published by C. G. Childs Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
98. VIEW OF HEAD ARCHES AND ENGINE HOUSE FROM NORTH, CA. 1830 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
99. VIEW OF THE WATER WORKS FROM THE NORTH, 1833 Engraved by George Lehman; Published by C. G. Childs Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
100. VIEW OF THE SCHUYLKILL WATER WORKS LOOKING SOUTHEAST, CA. 1835 SHOWING THE RESERVOIR AND THE 'BRIDGE OF SIGHS' Engraved by W. H. Bartlett; Published by J. C. Armytage
101. VIEW OF THE WATER WORKS FROM THE WEST, CA. 1838 William E. Tucker, Engraver Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
102. 'FAIRMOUNT FROM THE FIRST LANDING', CA. 1840 Frontispiece from The Fairmount Quadrilles Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
103. VIEW OF THE PROMENADE AND NEW MILL HOUSE TERRACE FROM THE RESERVOIR, 1867 J. Kiehn, Artist; J. Bien, Chromatographer Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
104. VIEW OF FAIRMOUNT WATER WORKS FROM THE WEST, 1871 T. W. Boven, Lithographer Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
105. VIEW OF THE WATER WORKS FROM THE WEST Frontispiece from Philadelphia Architecture In The Nineteenth Century, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1953
106. EAST ELEVATION OF ENGINE HOUSE, 1813 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
107. SOUTH ELEVATION OF ENGINE HOUSE, 1813 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
108. ELEVATION OF THE HEAD ARCHES AND THE SOUTH ELEVATION OF THE SOUTH WING Frederic Graff, Collection of Franklin Institute
109. SECTION OF ENGINE HOUSE SHOWING BOULTON & WATTS ENGINE, CA. 1815 Collection of the Franklin Institute
110. PROPOSED EAST AND WEST FRONTS OF THE MILL HOUSE, CA. 1819 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
111. MAP OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, CA. 1819 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
112. DOORWAY TO THE MILL HOUSE, CA. 1819 Collection of the Franklin Institute
113. ORIGINAL PLAN OF THE PUMPS, CA. 1819 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
114. PLAN OF THE MILL HOUSE WITH BREAST WHEELS, 1819 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
115. WEST ELEVATION OF MILL HOUSE AND SOUTH WING, CA. 1820 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
116. EAST ELEVATION OF THE MILL HOUSE AND NORTH WING ON THE FOREBAY, CA. 1820 collection of the Franklin Institute
117. SECTION THROUGH MILL HOUSE AND FOREBAY SHOWING BREAST WHEEL, SECTION THROUGH PUMP CHAMBER, CA. 1820 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
118. STUDY DRAWING FOR WATER WHEELS, CA. 1822 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
119. ELEVATION AND DETAIL OF CAST-IRON BREAST WHEEL, 1834 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
120. PLANS AND ELEVATIONS OF GAZEBO, DATED FEBRUARY 3, 1835 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
121. ELEVATIONS OF COLONNADE OF ENGINE HOUSE, DATED JUNE 11, 1835 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
122. PLAN OF WATER WORKS, RESERVOIR, AND CITY PARK, 1839 Frederic Graff, Collection of the Franklin Institute
123. SECTION, ELEVATION, AND PLAN OF ENGINE HOUSE, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
124. ELEVATION AND PLAN OF MILL HOUSE, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
125. SECTION OF BREAST WHEEL, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
126. SECTION OF BREAST WHEELS 7 AND 8, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of the Franklin Institute
127. REVERSE SECTION OF BREAST WHEELS 7 AND 8, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of the Franklin Institute
128. ELEVATION, SECTIONS, AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR FOREBAY GATES, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of the Franklin Institute
129. SECTION OF BREAST WHEEL AND FOREBAY, REBUILT WHEELS 1, 2, 3, 1843 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of the Franklin Institute
130. REVERSE SECTION OF BREAST WHEEL AND FOREBAY, 1846 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of the Franklin Institute
131. ELEVATION AND PLAIN OF PUMP AND WATER MAIN, DATED MARCH 8, 1847 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
132. MAP OF MUNICIPAL WATER PIPES SUPPLIED BY FAIRMOUNT WATER WORKS, From Annual Report of 1851, Water Department of Philadelphia
133. PARTIAL PLAN AND ELEVATION OF MILL HOUSE & MAP OF RESERVOIRS, From Annual Report of 1851, Water Department of Philadelphia
134. WORKING DRAWING OF TURBINE, CA. 1851 Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
135. ELEVATIONS OF TURBINE From Annual Report of 1861, Water Department of Philadelphia
136. PLAN AND ELEVATIONS OF REMODELED MILL HOUSE, DATED AUGUST 1, 1867 Frederic Graff, Jr., Collection of the Franklin Institute
137. PLAN OF TURBINE WHEEL, PUMPS, FLUMES, AND MAINS From Annual Report of 1868, Water Department of Philadelphia
138. ELEVATIONS OF FORCE PUMP AND SUSPENDED MAIN OVER FOREBAY, SECTIONS OF MAIN From Annual Report of 1868, Water Department of Philadelphia
139. SECTION THROUGH TURBINE WHEEL AND FLUME From Annual Report of 1868, Water Department of Philadelphia
140. PLAN AND SECTION OF NEW DAM AND OLD DAM From Annual Report of 1872, Water Department of Philadelphia
141. PLAN OF WATER WORKS From Annual Report of 1874, Water Department of Philadelphia
142. PLAN OF THE RESERVOIRS AT FAIRMOUNT From Annual Report of 1874, Water Department of Philadelphia
143. INTERIOR OF THE MILL HOUSE SHOWING BREAST WHEEL, 1853 Collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia
144. DETAIL VIEW OF TURBINE GEARS, UNDATED Philadelphia City Archives (#13588-2, Folder 593)
145. INTERIOR VIEW SHOWING TURBINES, UNDATED Philadelphia City Archives (#1388-2, Folder 593)
146. The schuylkill Chained, Undated Photograph William Rush, Sculptor - 1825 Collection of Philadelphia Museum of Art
147. Nymph and Bittern, Undated Photograph William Rush, Sculptor - 1809 Collection of Free Library of Philadelphia
148. FOUNTAIN IN FAIRMOUNT WATER WORKS PARK Undated Photograph (Probably ca. 1875)
149. VIEW OF TURBINES IN REMODELED MILL HOUSE, CA. 1872 Water Department of Philadelphia
150. PORTRAIT OF FREDERIC GRAFF Collection of the Franklin Institute
151. PORTRAIT OF FREDERIC GRAFF, JR. Collection of the Franklin Institute
152. View looking E at Waterworks and dam from across the Schuylkill with Philadelphia Museum of Art in the background.
153. View looking SE from gazebo terrace showing river facade of Waterworks with Philadelphia Museum of Art in background; identical view as PA-51-6.
154. View looking SE from New Millhouse Terrace showing river facade of Waterworks.
155. Closer in view looking SE showing river facade of Waterworks.
156. View looking NE at Waterworks from across the Schuylkill.
157. Closer in view looking NE at Waterworks from across the Schuylkill.
158. View looking SE showing 'Centennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence' fountain on Aquarium Drive with north facade of Art Museum in right background.
159. Photocopy of photograph in the Philadelphia City Archives (nd., 1905) showing general overall view looking northeast, of Fairmount Water Works. If reproduced, please credit Philadelphia City Archives.
160. Photocopy of photograph in the Philadelphia City Archives (nd. 1905) showing general view, looking southeast, of Old Mill House. If reproduced, please credit Philadelphia City Archives.
161. Photocopy of photograph in the Philadelphia city Archives, dated July 8, 1930, showing east elevation of North Entrance House with William Rush's allegorical sculpture of 'Schuylkill Chained' in place over portal to Entrance House. If reproduced, please credit Philadelphia Historical Commission. In 1930, this structure is identified as the Elevator Shaft Building.
162. Photocopy of photograph in the Philadelphia City Archives, dated July 8, 1930, showing east elevation of South Entrance House with William Rush's allegorical sculpture of 'Schuylkill Unchained' in place over portal to Entrance House. If reproduced, please credit Philadelphia Historical Commission. In 1930, this structure is identified as the Store Room.

CONTROL #:
PA0837

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