Tours of the Wingohocking and Poquessing, and an exhibit and talk about the city’s buried streams, are on my upcoming calendar. Find details below.
On exhibit until May 16:
Lost Creeks of Philadelphia:
Burying the Streams, Building the City
An exhibit co-curated by Adam E. Levine
and Joseph E. B. Elliott
Between the 1760s and the 1960s, hundreds of miles of the Philadelphia’s surface streams were channeled into underground sewers — some more than 20 feet across — that became integral to the drainage of the expanding urban grid. Burying streams was one of many drastic alterations to the city’s original landscape that provided a more level surface for its buildings and streets. Using maps and plans, drawings and paintings, and old and modern photographs, The Lost Creeks of Philadelphia reveals why and how this work was done and shows how this work still affects the city today. This exhibit challenges the way visitors look at any city, reminding us that what we see on the surface tells only part of the story.
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
219 S. 6th Street, Philadelphia
(215) 925-2688
https://philaathenaeum.org/
The Athenaeum is closed Sundays. Check the website for open hours.
Exhibit co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Water Department.
To arrange a group tour of the exhibit led by me, contact the Athenaeum’s events staff.
April 18, 10:30 am
I will be giving a guided tour/gallery talk of the exhibit for the Oliver Evans Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archeology. To register send an email to the OE/SIA with your name and contact information. Registration limited to 20.
April 23, 2 pm
I will be giving an illustrated talk about the Lost Creeks exhibit at The Athenaeum. You can visit the exhibit before or after. To register for this free event, click here.
May 9, 1 to 3 pm
Poquessing Creek Watershed Tour
Sponsored by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia as part of its “Trail of Poquessing History” project.
For more information and to register for this free event, visit this link.
This is a reprise of a fun and informative tour that PAGP sponsored in October 2025, which explores a little-known creek located along on the northeast boundary of the city. To view a short teaser video made during the tour, click here.
July 11, 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
Wingohocking Watershed Tour
Sponsored by Cliveden and the Philadelphia Water Department
This popular bus tour will follow the course of the historic Wingohocking Creek, now mostly buried in a sewer. We’ll visit a remnant of the stream and other highlights on the way to the outfall at Frankford Creek. Register at this link.
