Wharves

Wharves. along the Schuylkill. , In the area in front of you was once filled with wharves bustling with activity. The first of these were built in 1810. With the discovery in 1814 of anthracite coal in Mauch Chunk, PA, Philadelphia became a hub for coal distribution and export. In 1825, the Schuylkill Navigation System connected the city, through a network of canals, to coal mines north and west of here., Piers and wharves were built into the river so that canal boats from the mines could dock and unload their cargo. Some coal was transferred to tall-masted ships which delivered it along the East Coast., By 1838, an estimated 300,000 tons of Pennsylvania Anthracite was sent to market for use in home heating, iron and gas production., Ice, lumber, stone and other products needed for the fast-growing city were also unloaded and kept in storehouses here., Railroads gradually replaced boats as the way of transporting freight. By 1896 all the wharves shown on the 1875 map to the right had been filled-in or built upon., Remnants of the wharves are still present approximately 15' below ground level along the Schuylkill's east bank., [Captions:] , This 1853 image shows coal wharves at Spruce Street and a steam powered crane which helped load and unload vessles., Tall-masted ships, like this one docked at the Walnut Street wharf, helped distribute the coal to ports along the Atlantic seaboard.