Items

Historic resources from our archives - images, maps, documents, and more.

Fairmount Gardens, with the Schuylkill Bridge. This 1839 engraving, published in London, shows a view of the South Garden from the walkways that brought visitors up the cliffside to the overlooks at the height of the reservoirs. The fountain used the pressure of the reservoirs and was a a delightful refreshment in hot weather, and a wonder at all times. One anachronistic element of this engraving is the Upper Ferry Bridge, which burned the year before the print was published. Harding’s Hotel, a popular resort, is at the western end of the bridge.

Fairmount Gardens with the Schuylkill Bridge, 1839

Portrait of Frederick Graff with Centre Square Water Works in the background, by James Peale, 1804. (Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent)

Frederick Graff portrait with Centre Square Water Works in background

Allegory of the Schuylkill statue

Fourth of July in Centre Square, John Lewis Krimmel, ca. 1812. The wooden statue in the fountain, “Allegory of the Schuylkill River (Water Nymph and Bittern)”, was carved in 1809 by Philadelphia sculptor William Rush.

Fourth of July, Centre Square, ca. 1812

Vue du Bosquet des trois Fontaines (View of the Grove of the Three Fountains), at Versailles. Painting by Jean Cotelle (the Younger, (c) Réunion des musées nationaux. Used with permission.

Vue du Bosquet des trois Fontaines, 1689-91

Black-and-white drawing of the interior of a humble cabin

A Day in the Ma’sh – In The Old Cabin Home

“Philadelphie,” Bird’s Eye View, 1855

Old Rosin the Beau for the Falcon Barge, J.C. Beckell (2008.001.0047)

Old Rosin the Beau, title page, 1838

View of Fairmount Water Works, ca. 1827