Discourse and Discovery: Places of Gathering in Philadelphia – PACSCL

This painting is a close copy of an engraving by English landscape artist William Henry Bartlett, which depicts a view of the Fairmount Waterworks from the west bank of the Schuylkill River. The waterworks facility was designed by Frederick Graff (1774-1847) and began operation in 1815. The covered Upper Ferry Bridge, depicted in the distance, was built in 1812 and destroyed by fire in 1838. The locks of the Schuylkill Navigation Company are seen at the right. The “fair mount” above the waterworks complex is the present site of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

This painting is a close copy of an engraving by English landscape artist William Henry Bartlett, which depicts a view of the Fairmount Waterworks from the west bank of the Schuylkill River. The waterworks facility was designed by Frederick Graff (1774-1847) and began operation in 1815. The covered Upper Ferry Bridge, depicted in the distance, was built in 1812 and destroyed by fire in 1838. The locks of the Schuylkill Navigation Company are seen at the right. The “fair mount” above the waterworks complex is the present site of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What’s the story?

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is nicknamed the “Keystone State” because of its central position in the thirteen original American colonies and its principal role in the American Revolutionary era. The city of Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States, where the Declaration of Independence (1776), Articles of Confederation (1777), and the Constitution (1787) were all written and ratified. Philadelphia acted as the capital of the nation during the Revolutionary War and while Washington D.C. was under construction. Philadelphia is rich in American history, even being honored as the first World Heritage City in the United States.

Places have the power to shape our behavior, development, identity and history. The many significant places in Philadelphia are emblematic of the history of the city and the nation, and offer a lens through which we can view the past. The historic homes, buildings, museums, churches, and cemeteries across the city see millions of visitors annually. Engagement with place allows us to consider our natural and built environments and reorient our perspectives on the history of our country. Knowledge and experience of such historical places provides foresight into contemporary affairs, offering incitement and warning in the ordering of public policy. What and how we choose to remember is embedded in the lives and histories of individuals and communities. The Semiquincentennial offers the United States an opportunity for local and international civic renewal through community reflection and engagement with one another.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia participates in historic preservation and reflection through community engagement by promoting its heritage to a contemporary world. Using material from The Athenaeum’s extensive archival collections, Discourse and Discovery: Places of Gathering in Philadelphia, explores how both citizens and visitors alike engage with representative public spaces in Philadelphia. Broad Street/City Hall (civic and culture), Reading Terminal Market (transportation and retail), Fairmount Park (recreation and art), the Philadelphia Zoo (recreation and education), Washington Square/The Athenaeum of Philadelphia (community and culture) have long served as places of gathering in Philadelphia, illustrating the power of place in community engagement and participation.

More details

theme: Power of Place
subjects: Philadelphia, architecture, culture, gathering, place
contributing repository: Athenaeum of Philadelphia
submitted by: Staff member
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