Fairmount Water Works

Trash Free Waters Art Show
2025-04-09 10:00 - 2025-04-12 17:00, 2025-04-16 10:00 - 2025-04-17 17:00 (America/New_York) | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Come view a selection of entries from the 2023 Trash Free Waters Art Contest, organized by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.
Artists from across the Delaware Estuary region were asked to create a piece of artwork related to the theme of Trash Free Waters. Artwork could use any medium, but had to be created on a provided 12″ by 9″ canvas. The goal of the art contest was to bring awareness to the problem of aquatic trash and highlight the ways people can help be part of the solution.
Winners were chosen by public vote at the 2023 Delaware River Festival, held at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia on September 9th.
Winning artwork have been turned into advertisements to help share the message of the importance of keeping out local waterways trash free!
View during Interpretive Center hours starting August 10: Wednesday – Saturday: 10am-5pm

CITY HOLIDAY-BUILDING CLOSED
2025-04-18, 2025-06-19 | PA

LOVING LANDMARKS 2.0: Philadelphia’s Leading Water and Heritage Site
2025-04-24 16:30 - 18:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Celebrate International Day of Monuments and Sites with Philadelphia’s Fairmount Water Works. Come learn and experience why, more than two centuries ago, the Fairmount Water Works was one of the most visited sites in the United States, second only to Niagara Falls and continues as a distinguished destination today. Join us for an interactive guided program exploring its significant architectural form and why it became a prototype for water supply systems around the world.

Families are welcome!
$5 per family or couple – materials fee

POP-UP: BIOMIMICRY
2025-04-26 11:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
DROP IN!
Biomimicry is the practice of learning from nature in order to solve human design challenges. For example a Swiss engineer invented the Velcro hook and loop fastener after studying the burs stuck in his dog’s fur. The barbs on burdock seeds provided the inspiration!
Join us to explore some examples of biomimicry and create nature-inspired solutions to some water-based problems.
For families and all ages!

CONFLUENCE: 3rd Annual Special Fine Art Exhibition Preview Reception
2025-05-01 16:30 - 18:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
PLEASE JOIN US!
PREVIEW RECEPTION
Thursday, May 1st, 2025
4:30pm to 6:30PM
Wine, Beer and Refreshments
A catered light fare will be available.
RSVP by April 25th
We are proud to present our third annual spring fine art exhibition. Titled Confluence, this special exhibition is centered on the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and the junction where they meet, known as a confluence.
Eleven artists, showcasing 26 works of art, will tell the tale of the two rivers and the landscapes they traverse before coming together in South Philadelphia at Girard Point adjacent to the Navy Yard. The theme is represented in drawings, photographs, abstract watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings.
Visitors are invited to flex their imaginations enjoying abstract and representational landscapes exploring the expansive ecosystem that is our region’s watershed.
CONFLUENCE, 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 Ed F. Grusheski Water Literacy Foundation.
Contributing Artists: Greg Brellochs – Courtesy Werring Contemporary, Thom Duffy, Susan Fenton, Albert Fung – Courtesy City Art Salon, Mike Geno, Jenn Hallgren, Alan Lankin, Bonnie Levinthal, Lauren Rosenthal McManus, Larry Spaid, Mickayel Thurin – Courtesy Gross McCleaf Gallery
To attend this event, please register HERE .

The exhibition is brought to you in part by
Fund for the Water Works and the Ed F. Grusheski Water Literacy Foundation

Curator-Led Tour of CONFLUENCE
2025-05-03 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-03 13:00 - 14:00, 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 | 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.

Bodies of Water Dance Performance
2025-05-03 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!

HISTORIC PRESERVATION TOUR
2025-05-03 12:00 - 13:00, 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 and 1 more date | 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

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!!

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.
