Timeline of Important Milestones

Fairmount Water Works opened its doors as the sole water pumping station for the City of Philadelphia.

The Water Works was decommissioned as a pumping station when the City moved to sand filtration for purification in response to industrial development and the resulting detrimental impact on the region’s water quality..

Most of the once technologically revered water pumping equipment was removed to make way for the opening of the Philadelphia Aquarium, which operated until 1962.

The site became home to the John B. Kelly Pool, a practice pool for competitive swimmers and for School District of Philadelphia students until 1972.

Fairmount Water Works is designated a National Historic Landmark and National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1976, and National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark the following year. Efforts begin to restore the building to its former glory.

After a 40 year restoration effort, the building reopens its doors as an Education Center. Additionally, Parks & Recreation awarded a restaurant concessionaire contract to operate out of the Water Work's Engine House, doubling the reactivation of the space

Fairmount Water Works celebrates its 200th anniversary.

FWW will be the leading repository for urban watershed research and data associated with PWD’s innovative green management solutions to treat stormwater as a precious resource and to restore our rivers and streams to clean, safe, fishable, swimmable and beautiful amenities.