Rebirth & Renewal

Rebirth and Renewal. . , The Fairmount Water Works ceased operations in 1909. Four new pumping stations with sand filtration beds began supplying Philadelphia with purified water., In 1911 the Fairmount Park Aquarium opened in the Fairmount Water Works. One of the first aquariums in the united States, it attracted millions of visitors. After it closed in 1962, a swimming pool was built inside the Water Works., Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the Water Works site fell into disrepair. In the mid-1970s growing awareness of the site's significance led to the site being declared a National Civil Engineering Landmark (1976), a National Historic Landmark (1976) and a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark (1977). Over the next three decades a careful restoration of the site continued. This monumental overtaking was completed in 2008., [Captions:] , Restoration work of the Graff Memorial included: cleaning of the marble; reconstruction of eight missing pinnacles; reinstallation of the bust of Graff. Sections of the decorative iron fence, designed by Graff, were also reconstructed., Altered by the removal of the Reservoir in the 1920s, the Cliffside Paths fell into disuse by the 1960s. In 2008 the Paths reopened with new paving and lighting. The elaborate railings were painstakingly recreated from historic photos and original remnants., The Engine House under restoration in the 1990 (left) and after it reopened as a restaurant in 2006 (right). The decades-long project included façade restoration, retrofitting of the interior and the creation of a new kitchen area., Workers reconstructed the New Mill House floodgates in 2007.