History Houses in Fairmount Park

Fairmount Park, named after its first park, is actually a park system located in Philadelphia. It is composed by 63 neighborhood parks, claiming almost 10% land of the city. And as a result, Fairmount Park is ranked among one of the largest urban parks in America. Besides a large number of regional and neighborhood parks, Fairmount Park also houses a wide range of landmarks and attractions, like Franklin, Logan, and Washington Square, the Schuylkill River and etc. In 1972, this Park was honored as National Register of Historic Places.

Fairmount Park Official Page

http://www.fairmountpark.org/index.asp

As the iconic destination in Philadelphia, Fairmount Park prides and boasts its historic houses and buildings. Most of these terrific houses were constructed in the 18th century and after delicate renovation and decoration, they are decked out to entertain visitors with special tours stepping into the wealthy history of 18th-century America. All the constructions of this category are open to visitors routinely. To help you know better, we have broken them down into several subjects, and next we will spotlight them one by one.

Historic Houses at Fairmount Park

http://www.fairmountpark.org/HistoricHouses.asp

- Accommodations

There is just one historic house of this type - Chamounix Mansion. It is the first urban youth hostel in the nation, welcoming guests for more than 40 years. Chamounix Mansion was originally built in 1802 as a country home by George Plumstead, a merchant in Philadelphia. The Mansion has perfect sceneries over the Schuylkill River and is conveniently connected to a number of city's cultural attractions, award-winning restaurants and sporting sites. The biggest bonus is that you can enjoy a cozy stay in this 18th-centry building for up to $20 each night! Spending a night or two in Chamounix Mansion is a long-cherished wish for every visitor of Fairmount Park.

This historical Mansion is located at 3250 Chamounix Drive in West Fairmount Park. Call at 215-878-3676 or visit their website for more information.

Chamounix Mansion

http://www.philahostel.org/

- Boathouses

Boathouses in Fairmount Park come in a varied shapes and sizes, some in the notable Victorian style, while others in the traditional mill structure. If time permits, make sure to check the buildings and houses around the Boathouse Row. Many rowing and canoe clubs are housed in these houses, hosting rowing activities and campaigns of each skill level year around. Following is a list of clubs located along the Boathouse Row, and you can find out pictures of them on:

Boathouse Rowing

http://www.fairmountpark.org/Rowing.asp

- Fairmount Rowing Association: #2 Boathouse Row. 215-769-9693.

- Crescent Boat Club: #5 Boathouse Row. 215-978-9816.

- Bachelors Barge Club: #6 Boathouse Row. 215-236-4328.

- University Barge Club: #7-#8 Boathouse Row. 215-232-2293.

- T he Malta Boat Club: #9 Boathouse Row. 215-769-9030.

- The Vesper Boat Club: #10 Boathouse Row. 215-769-9615.

- College Boat Club: #11 Boathouse Row. 215-978-8918.

- Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association: #12 Boathouse Row. 215-978-9458.

- Undine Barge Club: #13 Boathouse Row. 215-765-9244.

- Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club: #14 Boat House Row. 215-978-8824.

- East Park Canoe House: 2400 John B. Kelly Drive.

- Philadelphia Canoe Club: 4900 Ridge Avenue at Wissahickon Park. 215-487-9674.

Among all these club houses and buildings, the most featured ones include East Park Canoe House, which was designed in 1915 and highlights the red tile roof, and Philadelphia Canoe Club, one of the few living mill houses in the Park.

- Educational Centers

Well, you better not see Fairmount Park just as a place for a rest and relaxation. In fact, the Park provides home to a few educational centers, getting the visitors inspired on environmental protection and relationship between man and nature. Currently, there are two educational houses rooted in Fairmount Park, Pennypack Environmental Center and Wissahickon Environmental Center at the Andorra Natural Area.

1) Pennypack Environmental Center

Located inside the Pennypack Park, a part of Fairmount Park, this center was established in 1958, dedicated to offering a sanctuary for more than 150 species of birds. Today, it covers an outdoor amphitheater, exhibits, and a related library and picnic sections. This is a great place for families to relax, learn and bird watch.

2) Wissahickon Environmental Center

At the northern end of Fairmount Park meets this center. In fact, it was a farmhouse formerly and is referred as "Tree House" for the fact that a big tree once grew through its front corridor before the early 1990s. Today, a new aquarium is added to this welcoming venue in the consideration of children visitors. Take advantage of its fun and creative programs and get closer to native wildlife, forest ecology and rivers. This center is opened to guests from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday and closed on major holidays.

- Exhibition Buildings

1) Memorial Hall

From far away, you can spot this building easily by its distinct dome peaking highly over the treetops. Used as settings for many movies, Memorial Hall is one of the most identifiable landmarks in Fairmount Park, and the only primary construction left from the Centennial Exposition in 1876. No wonder that it is ranked among the most-visited historic sites in the Park. Amazingly, this Hall is built without wood, quite fireproofed. It served as the Philadelphia art museum until 1928. Can you afford the loss of missing one of city's best spaces since you have set foot in the Park? It awaits your admiration at 4231 North Concourse Drive, West Fairmount Park.

2) FDR Park Police Station and Stable

Maybe you will get surprised to find this handsome building was once the Park Guard station. Just like many a structures in the Park, this building also has red titled roof, and more importantly, it is one of the rare constructions in the Park of Arts and Crafts style. Today, this house is used as the home to the staff who serve FDR Park (Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park) and Center City.

3) Sesquicentennial Exposition Emergency Hospitals

This hospital house once served as the locker rooms for Park swimmers and the Park Guard station. In the late 20th century, the Men's Hospital was transformed into a park maintenance building, and the Women's Hospital has been unoccupied since the 1990s after the closure of the Park pool. The addresses of these two hospitals are respectively 1601 and 1607 FDR Parkway.

- Farms

Are your longing for an escape from bustling city life? Can you guess what Fairmount Park is going to offer you? Fox Chase Farm, one of the last working farms in the whole country! This remarkable land has been used for agriculture for more than 300 years and is still in use today. Moreover, Fox Chase Farm has managed to establish itself as a family destination in the Park, benefiting children and adults with a wide range of activities and events throughout the year. Enclosed by green farm fields, with the tall and lush trees as backdrops, this farm invites all of you to explore the best and the most of farm life. This historical farm is located at 8500 Pine Road. Please call at 215-728-7900 for detailed introduction.

Fox Chase Farm Home

http://www.foxchasefarm.org/index.html

- Work Progress Administration Buildings

To figure out what WPA refers to, let's first look back to the Great Depression. During the Depression, a program called Work Progress Administration was carried out to improve the unemployment and take men back to work. Heaps of men were hired in Fairmount Park to construct infrastructure, like shelters, dams, walls, and trails, etc.

Today many constructions we find in the Park are attributed to this massive effort. It is estimated that between 1938 and 1939, 13 trail shelters, guard boxes, and stations were built by the WPA at Wissahickon Park. Additionally, there are a few surviving structures throughout Pennypack Park as well. More works by WPA include the Belmont Concession in West Fairmount Park, the Belmont Stables on West River Drive, and the Edgeley Fields Refreshment Stand located in East Park.

- Restaurants

Take a break from the exploration and have a rest at the historical & inviting Philadelphia restaurants and cafe at Fairmount Park. All these dining venues travel through the stunning history of Philadelphia and deliver the city's real taste to guests from every corner of the world. With the picturesque surroundings, these historical restaurants are dedicated to feeding both your stomach and soul. Do make time for a dinner at one of the following sites. You will be glad that you did. Promise!

1) Valley Green Inn

Labeled as the landmark inside the Wissahickon Park, this Inn was built around 1850 and now is preferred as one of the most beloved places in the Park System. Adjacent to the Valley Green Road, this house is the last surviving roadhouse in Wissahickon. Just as many visitors have said, dining at this hundred-year-old Inn is a favorite tradition in Philadelphia. This two-level and grey tiled roof building offers services from 12 pm to 4 pm, and 5 pm to 9 pm Monday through Friday, 11 am to 4 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 3 pm / 5 pm to 9 pm on Sunday. More information can be discovered on:

Valley Green Inn Homepage

http://www.valleygreeninn.com/index.php

2) Fairmount Water Works

Standing majestically at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fairmount Water Works makes itself out among a large number of landmarks in the Park by two recipes. One is the Water Works Interpretative Center, and the other is foodies' favorite - Water Works Restaurant & Lounge. Dating back to the 19th century, the Water Works at Fairmount Park was once one of the three most-visited places in North America. As for the restaurant housed inside, it is seen as a marvel which you can not miss out if you want to truly experience Philadelphia. Sitting on the banks of the beautiful Schuylkill River, this restaurant offers perfect spaces and taste for lunch, dinner, brunch and private events. Are you coveted? Click the link below and get connected right now!

Water Works Restaurant & Lounge

http://www.thewaterworksrestaurant.com/

3) Ohio House

Do you look for a place for a cup of coffee after hours of strolling and watching in the Park? Then this elegant and cozy cafe house is recommended strongly. Maybe you think it is just a small eatery, like an array of other cafes founded around major attractions citywide. Well, you should be ready for a surprise, for this house has a long history stemming from the 1875 Centennial Exhibition, when it was served as a clubhouse and exhibition hall. The exterior of the house highlights 21 different Ohio sandstones with marks indicating which quarries they came from. Today, this house is operated as the Centennial Cafe reserving its former glory. No matter for what you walk in, breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks, Ohio House foods will keep your palate enticed and engaged, together with its storied century-plus history.

Ohio House/ The Centennial Cafe

http://www.thecentennialcafe.com/index.htm

- Stables

No one can deny that horses occupy an important part in the Park's rich and age-old history, from the old race tracks to the mounted police units. Consequently, there is no need to feel surprise when you come across a number of historic stables nestling throughout the Park. Horse lovers and horse riding enthusiasts, saddle up your horse and ride on the rack trails leading to the glorious 18th century. Current stable in use include:

1) Belmont Stables

As we have mentioned, this stable was built by the WPA in 1936, during the Great Depression. In 1996, this building was reopened as a boarding and teaching stable. It is located at 1802 Martin Luther King Drive, and the contact number is 215-877-8090.

2) Courtesy Stables

Home to 12 private-owned horses, this stable prides the storied history and the easy & direct access to the breathtaking Wissahickon Valley. Meanwhile, this historic stable is privy to several of the most fascinating riding trails in Philadelphia. You can visit it at 901 E. Cathedral Road, or browse its website.

Courtesy Stables

http://www.courtesystable.org/home

More stables are listed as follows:

- McCarthy Stables: 98 Chamounix Drive. 215-877-4419.

- Northwestern Stables: 120 Northwestern Avenue. 215-685-9286.

- Bell's Corner Stables: 8297 Bustleton Avenue. 215-742-1500.

- Historic Sites

Fairmount Park is boasting its varied collections of historic constructions, ranging from the state-owned mansions to simple shelters. The Park's buildings have showcased the architectural development and brilliance of over three centuries. In 2001, the Park was horned as the Commonwealth Treasure Designation. Throughout the recent decades, great efforts have been made in restoring and preserving these historic buildings to ensure their survival. Now let's turn to the introduction of historic sites in Fairmount Park.

1) Bartram's Garden

Bartram's Garden would be your paradise if you are garden lovers! As the oldest remaining botanic garden in the US, it prides the glorious past that President George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson all have laid footsteps on it. Featuring the 18th century farmstead, Bartram's Garden houses a historic botanical garden and the National Historic Landmark house. Here you can know better about the amazing life experience of John Bartram, the first American botanist. More information is handy on:

Bartram's Garden Website

http://www.bartramsgarden.org/

2) Belmont Mansion

If you visit Fairmount Park system without a tour to Belmont Plateau, then you have missed out one of the most incredible views of Center City district. The scenery in front of the Mansion is world-renowned as one of the best in the city. The Mansion and its grounds have a marvelous history back to the original age and many founding fathers of the State once stayed here and enjoyed the spectacular views from this famous property, such as Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and Madison. Becoming a part of Fairmount Park in 1869, the Mansion stands out for its perfect display of Palladian architecture. In 2007, the Underground Railroad Museum was added to this historic structure, dedicated to colonial history and the facts. Come and get close to the 18th-and 19th-century America!

Belmont Mansion

http://www.belmontmansion.org/index.html

3) Cedar Grove Mansion

This Mansion was built in 1748 by a wealthy widow called Elizabeth Coates Paschall, and stayed in use as the summer house of the family for 5 generations. The most amazing thing has happened to this Mansion is that about 75 years ago, it was moved from Frankford section to West Fairmount Park stone by stone! This aged Mansion is hidden in the shadow of green trees and opens to the public visitors 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday. The ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, and $2 for children of 6 to 12 years of ages. Call at 215-878-2123 for more information.

4) Strawberry Mansion

Probably this historical building is the most recognizable house in Fairmount Park to many people, not only for its lovely name and majestic white body, but more importantly for the complex history. The center part of Strawberry Mansion was built around 1790 by the famous lawyer Judge William Lewis, who drafted the first law in America on abolishing slavery. The two levels of the Mansion are decorated with impressive furniture and ornamental works of different periods. Paying a visit to the Mansion should be on your "must do" list. Please note that currently Strawberry Mansion is closed for renovations.

Besides the four houses listed above, Fairmount Park also contains another 9 historic mansions and homes, including:

- Glen Foerd on the Delaware: 5001 Grant Avenue

- Historic RittenhouseTown: 206 Lincoln Drive

- Japanese House and Garden: North Horticultural Drive and Montgomery Avenue

- Laurel Hill Mansion: 7201 North Randolph Drive

- Lemon Hill Mansion: Sedgeley and Lemon Hill Drives

- Mount Pleasant Mansion: 3800 Mount Pleasant Drive

- Ryerss Museum and Library: 7370 Central Avenue

- Sweetbriar Mansion: 1 Sweetbriar Drive

- Woodford Mansion: 2450 Strawberry Mansion Bridge Drive