Fairmount Water Works

Trash Free Waters Art Show
2025-01-02 10:00 - 2025-01-04 17:00, 2025-01-08 10:00 - 2025-01-11 17:00, 2025-01-15 10:00 - 2025-01-18 17:00, 2025-01-22 10:00 - 2025-01-25 17:00, 2025-01-29 10:00 - 2025-02-01 17:00, 2025-02-05 10:00 - 2025-02-08 17:00, 2025-02-12 10:00 - 2025-02-15 17:00, 2025-02-19 10:00 - 2025-02-22 17:00 (America/New_York) and 8 more dates | 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

Building CLOSED due to cold
2025-01-22 - 2025-01-24 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
We will reopen January 25th at 10am.
Join us on Saturday January 25th for a fun Pop-up Event

POP-UP: WATERWAY WONDERS ORIGAMI
2025-01-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
DROP IN!
Help us create a riverine wonderland of aquatic creatures in origami to display at the center. Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper into shapes and figures. Come join us!
For families and all ages! Snacks! Hot cocoa!

LOVING LANDMARKS
2025-02-15 11:00 - 12:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Join us at Fairmount Water Works to fall in love all over again with one of Philadelphia’s beloved icons. This architecture tour will shed light on the landmark’s best features through sketching, photography and more. We will finish the tour inside to make a Valentine to Water with a warm cup of cocoa.

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

MIGHTY MUSSEL POP-UP
2025-02-22 11:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
DROP IN! NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED!

Freshwater mussels have been described as nature’s own ‘mini water-filtration plants’. They are able to remove suspended algae, detritus and even toxins from their aquatic homes. Join us to find out how we are working to restore populations of native freshwater mussels in our urban waterways! Paint a mussel shell, play mussel games, do mussel puzzles, visit our hatchery and more!

For families and all ages!

WALK FOR WATER
2025-03-22 09:00 - 12:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
KSM Annual Run/Walk for Water – 5K
KSM , Annual ” Run/Walk for Water for Life” ( Join the fight for Clean Drinking water)
According to UNICEF and WHO, 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.
This year’s Theme for World Water Day is “ Valuing Water”. Let us value water and help the thousands of children in Kerion Valley to drink safe water.
Where your registration fee goes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqQlKu1cQGk
Register now: $20. Price increases to $25 after February 17, 2024 at 11:59pm EST
Early Bird catches the prey : Register and get lower rate and T-shirt!
To register, visit here.
Thank you in advance for joining us.

POP-UP: DIATOM ART
2025-03-22 11:00 - 14:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
DROP IN!
Diatom art was popular among microscopists in the 1800’s in Victorian England. The artist collected different species and arranged them into a design. Come join us in making a print of your own diatom design!
For families and all ages!

LOVING LANDMARKS
2025-03-29 11:00 - 12:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Join us at Fairmount Water Works to fall in love all over again with one of Philadelphia’s beloved icons. This architecture tour will shed light on the landmark’s best features through sketching, photography and more. We will finish the tour inside to make a love letter to Water with a warm cup of cocoa.

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

CITY HOLIDAY-BUILDING CLOSED
2025-04-18 | 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 | 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 | 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.
