Fairmount Water Works
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Fairmount Water Works. And I can’t believe I’ve never gone before! It has so many amazing things to offer.
We put it on our list of things to do every summer. It’s a great day trip if you want to visit the Philadelphia art museum, Boathouse Row, or the Museum District.
- It’s free.
- FWW has some amazing views of the city.
- The educational programs teach kids an appreciation of water conservancy and the environment
- It provides a unique glimpse into Philadelphia history.
- Because kids love talking about toilets.
Directions to Fairmount Water Works
You can drive and there is 2-hour free parking nearby. We took the train. It is about a 1-mile walk from 30th street, but it’s a really nice walk along the Schuylkill River Trail.
When I return with my other son, I would bring the stroller onto the train and walk again. SEPTA has a bus route to get you there.
Fairmount Water Works History
I loved learning about the history. It opened in 1815 as our nation’s first urban public water supply system. You can read much more here: Facts about Fairmount Water Works.
My son was interested in some of the educational programming, but not the history. He also loved walking around the building, and said he felt like a real Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle walking through the sewers (except these are not sewers, it’s clean, I promise).
Fairmount Water Works Hours
The Fairmount Water Works is open six days a week and is free to the public. That’s right, FREE! If you are a teacher or have another group (scouts, etc.) they also host groups for educational programming.
They had several interns there the day we visited and they really kept my son’s interest, I was afraid he would be bored but he wasn’t.
My son also enjoyed just walking around looking at the big gears and machinery, from when this was a working water system.
Farimount Water Works Curriculum
Another lesson that he took that day was learning about what fish live in what kind of water. I guess I never really thought about it, but, ick.
Who wants fish that live in polluted water? I assumed that most fish would avoid it, not live in it.
It’s a really nice mix of activities. Lots of education about pollution and the environment and water supply. My son really learned from it and still talks about it. Fun enough that they don’t get bored while they are there.
And it’s for kids, but as an adult, I enjoyed it too. And nothing makes kids snicker more than a bunch of toilets! Because with 5-year-old boys, all conversations eventually end up being about toilets.
Visiting with a disabled child
As always, look online at their website before making any final plans. Hours and other details may change.
The building is newly renovated, so it is accessible. I found the lighting and the noise level to be good; not too bright or too noisy for those who are sensitive. If your child is visually impaired, some of it is a little dark due to the age of the building.
And some parts have uneven floors, so they may need help navigating. It was nothing major and nothing that would deter me from taking my child with visual impairments.
There are benches in every room I was in if someone needs to rest. The temperature inside was fine even though it was a warm, humid day outside. The bathrooms were fine and spacious. I did not see a family restroom.
Farimount Water Works Restaurant
I did not go to the restaurant. The restaurant and the environmental education center are separate. It is my understanding that it is a bit more upscale and not a place you’d necessarily want to take kids anyway.
But you’d have to check their menu for allergy information and carb information for T1. It’s not a venue that you’d necessarily visit for an extended period of time, which can be a good thing.
You may want to pair it with a walk along Boathouse Row or the Art Museum or something. There is no food available for purchase here, so you’d need to bring your own if you want snacks.
When we go to the Art Museum, we add Fairmount Water Works to our itinerary. We also like to go over to Spring Garden Street area for lunch.
If you enjoyed the Fairmount Water Works, or these travel tips for kids, take a look at my review of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Another hidden gem in our area!
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