Fairmount Water Works

HISTORIC PRESERVATION TOUR
2025-05-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-05-31 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
A special guided tour of the exterior grounds of the Fairmount Water Works, a National Historic Landmark.

Register here.

CURRENTS OF CHANGE: Networking & Insights for Young Environmental Professionals
2025-05-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

Curator-Led Tour of CONFLUENCE
2025-05-17 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-31 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-31 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-21 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-06-21 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-07-12 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-12 13:00 - 14:00 and 1 more date | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
ART EXHIBIT TOURS
CONFLUENCE: 3rd ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT AT FWWIC
We welcome visitors to register in advance for personal and engaging tours with Thom Duffy, Curator. Visitors will also be greeted by contributing artists. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from artists who are featured in this special exhibition !
Register HERE.

Pop-Up: Let's Go Fishing
2025-05-31 11:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Let’s Go Fishing Pop-Up
Join us to learn about the fish living in the Schuylkill River. Playing our Fish Game will allow you to use one of our fishing poles to try your hand at catching a fish! No registration needed – just drop in! We provide all equipment needed.
Location: Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive 19130

KIDS ART WORKSHOP
2025-06-07 11:00 - 12:00 | PA
KIDS ART WORKSHOP
featuring reused materials!

Read Along
Scavenger Hunt
Make your own Art
Explore art from the 2023 Trash Free Waters Art contest and get inspired to create your own masterpiece!!

CITY HOLIDAY-BUILDING CLOSED
2025-06-19, 2025-07-04 | PA

Get to Know the Schuylkill River - Kayak Program
2025-06-21 10:30 - 14:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Start at Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center: collect water samples from the river and try your hand at identifying some of the microlife we’ll find. Explore the history of Philadelphia’s innovative water supply system. Get to know the freshwater mussel species we are propagating in our hatchery.
After a brief lunch break (bring your own), we will hike down the Schuylkill River Trail (about 1 mile) to the Walnut Street Dock, where kayaks await. Hidden River Outfitters will give a brief orientation to paddling and then we’ll get into our kayaks and out on the river!
This program is geared towards families with youth ages 12 and up. (12 years is the minimum age allowed). All participants must sign a kayak waiver, and participants aged 12-18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will need to sign the minor’s kayak waiver.
Meet at Fairmount water Works at 10:30am. Space is limited; 20-person maximum. Advance registration required. Fee: $10/person.
This program is made possible through a partnership between Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center and Schuylkill River Development Corporation.
A bus will be available at Walnut Street to take participants back to FWWIC instead of walking back, if desired.
Email stacey.heffernan@phila.gov, Environmental Education Planner, FWWIC, for more information.

Wawa Welcome America Free Museum Day: Propagating Mussels
2025-06-25 10:00 - 15:00 | PA
Propagation of Freshwater Mussels
A trial for propagating freshwater mussels is tentatively scheduled for June 25th.Visitors will see our scientists at work inoculating Largemouth Bass with Eastern Pondmussel glochidia. Eastern Pondmussel is one of the native freshwater mussel species we can still find in our local rivers. Learn about the freshwater mussel’s unique life cycle and about our research and interest in restoring populations of these filter feeders in the Delaware River watershed. In the event the trial needs to be postponed, we will have a simulation of the propagation trial for visitors. Our Wet Lab will be set up with hands-on activities and games about freshwater mussels to help visitors get to know this fascinating critter and understand why the Philadelphia Water Department is investing in this kind of innovative approach in source water management.

Pop-Up: Pollinator Workshop
2025-06-28 11:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Pollinator Workshop Pop-Up
Celebrate National Pollinator Month 2025 with us! Explore pollinators by playing games, doing a scavenger hunt and making a bee hotel! Free, no registration needed – just drop in! Limited supplies for the bee hotel: first come, first served.

Location: Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive 19130

FLOW INTO SUMMER: Book Giveaway
2025-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

Lafayette Historic Tour of Fairmount Water Works
2025-07-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-19 10:00 - 11:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
The Marquis de Lafayette was 19 when he first came to America in 1777 to fight for its freedom. When he returned in August, 1824 for his farewell tour he was 67. At the end of his tour, in the summer of 1825, Lafayette visited Philadelphia once more, specifically to see the dedication of the Fairmount Water Works with a tour by the watering committee. He referred to it as “the perfect embodiment of the American Government, in which were combined simplicity, power, and economy.”
Join us for a guided interpretation of the 1815 engineering marvel that so impressed Lafayette on his Philadelphia visit. Tours will include excerpts from the extensive writings of both Lafayette and his secretary, Auguste Levasseur, about their experience at the site, that is now designated a Historic Landmark building.
Open to all. Free. Registration preferred.
Open to all, free admission

Bodies of Water
2025-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
The Naked Stark is a Partner in Movement at Fairmount Water Works. Come and celebrate the first performance of their residency!
Free performances will be shown in tandem with free gallery tours of the Fairmount Water Works’ new art exhibit “CONFLUENCE.”
May 3, 12 PM & 12:30 PM
Come for am art tour at 11pm and stay for a dance performance at 12pm!
Come for a dance performance at 12:30 and stay for an art tour at 1pm!

Schuylkill Acts & Impacts
2025-07-13 07:00 - 2025-07-18 17:00 | PA
This program is filled. Information will be available about next year’s program in January 2026. Check our website!
