Philadelphia Public Art @philart.net

Landmark: Water Works

On the Art Museum Grounds tour.

Water Nymph and Bittern
William Rush, 1809 (restored and reinstalled 2018)
* standing persoh, bird, fountain, actual rocks
* Incorporated into and replaced the Water Works Fountain
* In the garden of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965415,-75.183220 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's William Rush page




The Schuylkill Chained, The Schuylkill Freed
William Rush, 1825 (1980 fiberglass casts)
* reclining people, eagle, waterworks machinery
* Roofs. Two of the smaller buildings of the Water Works. Along the river, near the Spring Garden bridge, off Kelly Drive around 26th.
* 39.966350,-75.183600 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+Max Buten's picture of this piece
+phillyhistory.org 1930 picture of the original piece
+phillyhistory.org another 1930 picture of the original piece
+wikipedia.org's William Rush page




Eagle
1835 (alleged construction date of the gazebo)
* eagle
* Gazebo roof. On the grounds of the Water Works. Overlooking the Schuylkill. Off Kelly Drive around 26th..
* 39.966970,-75.184625 [map] [nearby]




Graff Memorial
1848 (restored 2006)
* In memory of Frederick Graff
* small gazebo, bust
* The bust in the second picture was added after the first picture was taken.
* inscription: To the memory of Frederick Graff, who designed and executed the Fairmount Water Works. Erected by the City Councils of Philadelphia, June 1, 1848
* In the garden of the Water Works. Along the Schuylkill Banks, near the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965625,-75.183250 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1933 picture of this piece
+wikipedia.org's Frederick Graff page




Peace Fountain
1865 (based on the inscription)
* house-like structure, water fountain
* inscription:
Peace
June 1865
* In the garden of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965380,-75.183075 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Peace and Love
* See also:
+phillyhistory.org 1954 picture of this piece




Ernesta Drinker Ballard Memorial
2006
* In honor of Ernesta Drinker Ballard
* small urn/planter
* inscription:
In honor of
Ernesta Drinker Ballard
1920-2005
Ernesta was the moving force behind the restoration of the Fairmount Water Works and these gardens. Fairmount Park Commissioner from 1981 to 2002 and a founding member of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, she was a civic leader, a feminist, a beloved friend.
"The world is a better place if everyone is included" - EDB 2001
Erected September 10, 2006
* In the gardens of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge..
* 39.965740,-75.183035 [map] [nearby]
* See also:
+wikipedia.org's Ernesta Drinker Ballard page




Water Works Fountain
2006 (repurposed 2018)
* fountain, rocks
* Reconfigured as the base of Water Nymph and Bittern
* In the garden of the Water Works. Schuylkill Banks near the Spring Garden Bridge.
* 39.965415,-75.183220 [map] [nearby]
* Exhibits: Missing


See Also

+fairmountwaterworks.org