Topics Infrastructure

Birch’s Views of Philadelphia, 1800

“Fairmount Waterworks. From the forebay.” (From nature & on stone G. Lehman; Published by C.G. Childs & G. Lehman, 1833. Free Library of Philadelphia, Print & Picture Collection)

Fairmount Water Works from the forebay, 1833

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

A section of wooden water pipe, long out of service, removed from a Philadelphia street in 1901. It had been installed about 1801.

Wooden Water Pipe, removed from Market Street, December 6, 1901

Black and white photo of two men facing the camera and several facing away while standing and sitting on a board

Bridge Street Draw, construction of piers, ca. 1896

Black and white photo of men on a wooden bridge outcropping

Bridge Street Draw, Cofferdam, ca 1896 [Detail]

Black and white photo of a man checking his watch in front of a creek with construction around it

Bridge Street Draw, looking north, ca. 1896

Bridge Street Draw, Cofferdam, ca. 1896

Bridge Street Draw. Southwest side of bridge. April 19, 1896. [Detail].

State Street pipeline construction

State Street pipeline construction, 1904

Race Bridge, Fair Mount Water Works, 1834 (Graff05.63)

Race Bridge, Fairmount Water Works, 1834

Black and white image of Philadelphia civic and business leaders watching the start of operations at the new Northeast Sewage Treatment Plant, April 6, 1951

Northeast Sewage Plant opening, 1951