Said in Stone: Statuary Art at Fairmount Water Works
2026-06-24 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Join us for Said in Stone: Statuary Art at Fairmount Water Works, a tour focusing on the “form” that complements the “function” of our National Historic Landmark.
Along with the history, learn about the artistic expression of this site through the architecture, fountains, sculpture, landscape design and the Schuylkill River School of Painting. The beauty of the form brought attention to the critical function of the Fairmount Water Works.

Loving Our Landmarks Tour
2026-06-25 16:00 - 17:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Come experience the story of Philadelphia’s water—past, present, and future. Join us for our Cultural Heritage Tour at one of Philadelphia’s most iconic landmarks. See how the Fairmount Water Works continues to meet the challenges of changing times —from a public health crisis in the 1800s, through the changing climate of the 21st century.
Guests will get to see rarely seen “before” images of the late 20th-century rehabilitation of the site and will talk about other water heritage sites throughout the world. All will inspire conversations about the challenges and possibilities for the protection of our significant water heritage sites.
The guided tour will reaffirm that the historic Fairmount Water Works still stands as a beautiful and enduring symbol of the city’s commitment to providing clean public drinking water and across the globe.

Wawa Welcome America: Free Museum Day
2026-06-27 10:00 - 17:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary by visiting Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center on June 27.

The FWW Interpretive Center is always free to visit, but on Saturday, June 27, FWW is partnering with Wawa Welcome America for Free Museum Day! Join us for special guided tours of the Fairmount Water Works, a National Historic Landmark and a special Dew Drop In activity for families!
One of 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city of Philadelphia, Fairmount Water Works tells the story of the rise of the first successful water supply system in our young nation. From innovative engineering and design to neoclassical architecture, Fairmount Water Works served as one of our nation’s top-visited tourist attractions while supplying the pristine water of the Schuylkill River to our growing city’s population. Join us in June to tour this renowned landmark.
Tours start at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Tours are free, but please register here.
Dew Drop In: 1:00 – 4:00 PM. Make your very own water wheel and explore how water power was used in the 19th century to supply drinking water to citizens of Philadelphia. No registration needed – just drop in!!

Curator-Led Tour of WE THE PEOPLE Fine Art Exhibition
2026-06-27 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-27 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-01 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
ART EXHIBIT TOURS
WE THE PEOPLE: 4th 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.

CANCELLED The Jazz Age: American Songs at their Centennial
2026-07-01 13:00 - 14:00 | PA
Bandleader V. Shayne Frederick presents an hourlong program of popular music of the 1920’s interpreted with elan by an ensemble of the region’s finest jazz musicians.
Free, open to the public, outdoors at the historic Fairmount Water Works pavilion. Limited seating available.

Due to the extreme heat, this event has been rescheduled for July 15, 1-2pm.

We will close at 1pm on July 3
2026-07-03 13:00 - 17:00 | PA
In honor of Independence Day, we will be closed at 1 PM on Friday July 3rd and all day on Saturday July 4th.

Independence Day-Building Closed
2026-07-04 10:00 - 17:00 | PA
In honor of the 4th of July, we will be closed all day.

RESCHEDULED DUE TO HEAT: The Jazz Age: American Songs at their Centennial
2026-07-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
The Jazz Age: American Songs at their Centennial, previously scheduled for July 15, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, July 29, at 1 p.m. due to the Excessive Heat Advisory.
Guests who have already registered for the event will not need to re-register. View the rescheduled event page here.

The Jazz Age: American Songs at their Centennial - RESCHEDULED DATE
2026-07-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Bandleader V. Shayne Frederick presents an hourlong program of popular music of the 1920’s interpreted with elan by an ensemble of the region’s finest jazz musicians.
V. Shayne Frederick is a vocalist, pianist, recording artist, composer and educator with performances spanning two decades. He has been featured at TEDx, NPR, a multitude of music fests, museums, and jazz clubs throughout the country, in addition to curating weekly musical series at South Jazz Kitchen and JG Skyhigh, Four Seasons Comcast within the last few years.
Free, open to the public, outdoors at the historic Fairmount Water Works pavilion. Limited seating is available.

CURRENTS: An Artist Conversation
2026-08-05 17:00 - 18:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Join the artists behind the Philadelphia Sculptors exhibition, CURRENTS (on view through August 8), for an engaging panel discussion about the creation of their works.
The audience will learn commonalities and differences in the artists’ perceptions of the historic Fairmount Water Works. The creators will discuss the challenges of making art in the haunting subterranean passages they brought back to life. Artists will explore their works and influences, as well as the process of collaborating to create a cohesive exhibition.
The panel will take place in the pool space at the heart of the exhibition. Attendees can immerse themselves in the exhibition and deepen their understanding of the research, concepts, and discoveries underpinning its artworks.

Hosted by curator and documentarian Conrad Benner (Founder of Streets Dept), participating artists are Joy Feasley and Paul Swenbeck, Carolyn Healy and John Phillips, Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib, Eugene Lew, Martha McDonald, and Taji Ra’oof Nahl.
Reception: 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Panel: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The event is free, but pre-registration is encouraged.

Story Time with Fairmount Water Works
2026-08-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Stop in for a story with your little ones, aged 2 to 6 years old!
Families are welcome to bring their children to the Fairmount Water Works to enjoy story time and explore the Interpretive Center. Geared towards 2- to 6-year-old kids, we will read a book from the Philadelphia Free Library, then go on a short outdoor tour. Guardians must accompany their children for the entire duration of the program. Younger/older siblings are also welcome.
In the case of rain, we will do story time and tour inside the building.

Turtle Talks with Aark Wildlife Rehab and Education Center
2026-08-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Join us at Fairmount Water Works for an engaging in-person turtle-themed event, “Turtle Talks” with Aark Wildlife Rehab and Education Center!
We will have Aark Wildlife Rehab on-site with some of their ambassador turtles.
Discover insights about turtles and wildlife rehabilitation from the experts at Aark Wildlife Rehab and Education Center. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about and support local wildlife education efforts.

John Brady Photography VIP Opening Reception
2026-09-16 16:30 - 19:00 | PA
WALKING THE SCHUYLKILL
John Brady Photography
William Penn placed the city where it is because of the Schuylkill River, guaranteeing the city and the river a prominent place in American history. Over time, the Schuylkill has served the city and its industry, first with a canal system and later with railroads and highways in the river’s flood plain. Factories and mills were built along its full length. Industry radically changed the river. Along with bringing farm products and coal to the city. The Schuylkill River provided drinking water. These purposes often collided; eventually drinking water won out. The environmental movement changed the river as radically as the industrial age had. These changes, and contemporary uses, leave imprints. “Walking the Schuylkill” intends to capture and highlight those marks, illustrating the character of the modern Schuylkill River.
VIP OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday September 16, 2026
4:30-7 PM
Details to come!

WALKING THE SCHUYLKILL: John Brady Photography
2026-09-19 10:00 - 17:00 | PA
WALKING THE SCHUYLKILL
Photography Exhibition Opening Day
September 19, 2026
William Penn placed the city where it is because of the Schuylkill River, guaranteeing the city and the river a prominent place in American history. Over time, the Schuylkill has served the city and its industry, first with a canal system and later with railroads and highways in the river’s flood plain. Factories and mills were built along its full length. Industry radically changed the river. Along with bringing farm products and coal to the city. The Schuylkill River provided drinking water. These purposes often collided; eventually drinking water won out. The environmental movement changed the river as radically as the industrial age had. These changes, and contemporary uses, leave imprints. “Walking the Schuylkill” intends to capture and highlight those marks, illustrating the character of the modern Schuylkill River.

Come view during Interpretive Center’s open hours:
Wednesday – Saturday 10am – 5pm
September 19, 2026 – January 8, 2027

FLOOD, BEGIN AGAIN Dance Performance by Naked Stark
2026-09-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-09-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-29 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-01 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-02 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-03 13:00 - 15:00 | PA
FLOOD, BEGIN AGAIN Dance Performance by Naked Stark
The Naked Stark is a partner in movement at Fairmount Water Works. Join us to watch their full-length immersive performance FLOOD, BEGIN AGAIN premiering in the former Kelly Pool. Six dancers propel, cascade, and ebb through the textural landscapes of concrete, river, fabric, and lighting that flood the pool and offer uncomfortable, humorous, and risky possibilities.
Co-created and performed by The Naked Stark artistic collaborators, Amalia Colón-Nava, Chloe Marie, Harlee Trautman, Katherine Kiefer Stark, Marcie Mamura, and Meredith Stapleton
Original live music by Andy Thierauf and lighting installation and design by Harbour Edney

Photos by Channing Billups
