Fairmount Water Works

Holiday - Building Closed
2025-12-25, 2026-01-01 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

Pop-Up: Wondrous World of Winter Adaptations
2025-12-26 11:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-27 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-03 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Join us for a winter POP-UP!
Learn how cold-blooded residents of the Schuylkill River survive in the winter. Then get creative and design your own aquatic invertebrate to take home!
All ages. No registration needed. Just drop in!
FREE

OPEN 10am-1pm
2025-12-31 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

Dew Drop-In... for fun!
2026-01-24 10:00 - 17:00, 2026-01-31 10:00 - 17:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
Hands-on activities for all ages!
All ages. No registration needed. Just drop in!
FREE

Loving Our Landmark Tour
2026-03-04 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-11 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-03-18 16:00 - 17:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
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 attraction while supplying the pristine water of the Schuylkill River to our growing city’s population. Join us on Wednesdays at 4pm through March to tour this renowned landmark.

Aquatic Saturday at Discovery Center
2026-03-07 13:00 - 15:00 | The Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, United States
We are joining Audubon staff at Discovery Center to take a look at our freshwater mussels that have been growing in the reservoir. We will learn how to measure them for data, and conclude with sampling the water to view and identify our microscopic organisms. We’ll also have materials for optional watercolor painting with lake water.

11th ANNUAL WALK FOR WATER
2026-03-21 07:30 - 11:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
KSM Annual Run/Walk for Water – 5K
Fairmount Water Works is partnering again this year with Keiyo Soy Ministries (KSM) to offer the 11th Annual Run/Walk for Water for Life. According to UNICEF, 1 in 3 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. Billions of people around the world are continuing to suffer from poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
KSM’s water project in the Kerion Valley was recently destroyed by landslides due to heavy rains. Race registration fees will support a new drilling operation that will provide water for seven schools.
This year’s Theme for World Water Day is “ Valuing Water”. Let us value water and help thousands of children in Kerion Valley have access to safe drinking water.
Register now: $30. Price increases to $35 after February 16, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. Register early to get a lower rate and T-shirt!
REGISTER NOW
Race Day Details:
Packet Pickup and Race Day Registration opens at 7:30 am
Water Works Building- 640 Waterworks Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Run/Walk Starts at 9 AM
Course Map: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2566305
Thank you in advance for joining us.

Dew Drop-In
2026-03-21 10:00 - 16:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
All ages are welcome to join us at Dew Drop-In workshops on Saturdays at Fairmount Water Works!
During March’s theme, The Color of Water, we’re exploring what affects the appearance of water, and then using the waterways of Philadelphia as inspiration for watercolor art.
See where your creativity flows on March 21 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m!

Landmark Tour
2026-03-25 16:00 - 17:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

Dew Drop-In
2026-03-28 10:00 - 16:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
All ages are welcome to join us at Dew Drop-In workshops on Saturdays at Fairmount Water Works!
During March’s theme, The Color of Water, we’re exploring what affects the appearance of water, and then using the waterways of Philadelphia as inspiration for watercolor art.
See where your creativity flows on March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m!

International Day of Sites & Monuments
2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
On Saturday, April 18, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., join the Fairmount Water Works for a Cultural Heritage Tour.
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.
Ellen Freedman Schultz, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, will present rarely seen “before” images of the site’s late-20th-century rehabilitation. The tour will reaffirm how the historic Fairmount Water Works still stands as a beautiful and enduring symbol of the city’s commitment to providing clean public drinking water.

World Heritage Month: Loving Our Landmarks Tour
2026-05-06 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-05-20 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.
Tour guide Ellen Freedman Schultz, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center and Philadelphia Water Department, will show 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.

CURRENTS: A Multimedia Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-05-09 13:00 - 16:00
In CURRENTS, ten prominent local artists will expose the hidden mysteries of the raw architecture and underground corridors beneath the historic Fairmount Water Works (FWW).
Imaginative site-specific artworks will immerse visitors in the voices of the river and the history and ecology of the Water Works and its environs. Trickling harmonic notes will accompany ephemeral video projections while haunting multi-media installations will connect colonial times to both the real present and an imagined future 250 years ahead.
CURRENTS is curated by Philadelphia Sculptors, and is a FWW, PHL250 and Global Philadelphia World Heritage Month event.
Philadelphia Sculptors works to promote contemporary sculpture and expand public awareness of the role and value of sculpture through exhibitions, public forums, and educational outreach.
Co-Curators: Elaine Crivelli, Leslie Kaufman, and Marsha Moss.

Participating Artists: Joy Feasley and Paul Swenbeck, Julianna Foster, Carolyn Healy and John Phillips, Nadia Hironaka and Matthew Suib, Eugene Lew, Martha McDonald, and Taji Ra’oof Nahl.

WE THE PEOPLE: Preserve Our Right To Clean Water Preview Reception
2026-05-14 16:30 - 18:30 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130
WE THE PEOPLE: Preserve Our Right To Clean Water
4th Annual Special Fine Art Exhibition
Preview Reception
The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has been a national leader in educating the public about the value of clean water and the need for public stewardship of our regional and local watersheds. This exhibition encapsulates these ideas and invites visitors to engage in thought and discussion sparked by a series of events which celebrate clean water including a fine art exhibition, installations, dance performances and interactive displays throughout the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (FWWIC).
The exhibition will be open to the public from May 16 to August 1, 2026.
Participating Artists: Keith Breitfeller , *Emily Brown, Brian David Dennis, Thom Duffy, **Benjamin Passione, Rinal Parikh ,
Amie Potsic, Ana Vizcarra Rankin, Robert Reinhardt and Michael Williamson.
Courtesy of Galleries: *Avery Galleries and **Gross McCleaf Gallery.
The exhibition is curated by Thom Duffy under the direction of Karen Young, FWWIC Director, and brought to you in part by the Fund for the Water Works and the Edward F. Grusheski Water Literacy Foundation.
