Ever wondered why Fairmount is called Fairmount? The name comes from the prominent hill where the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands. William Penn planned to build his manor house here. Later, the name Fairmount was given to the street originally called Hickory Lane. It runs from the foot of Fairmount Hill through the heart of the neighborhood.
Fairmount is a neighborhood in Lower North Philadelphia. Its boundaries are north of Fairmount Avenue and west of Corinthian Avenue. It extends south of Girard Avenue and east of the Schuylkill River. These boundaries can change depending on how you define the neighborhood. Several nearby neighborhoods are sometimes called Fairmount. These include Spring Garden, Franklintown, and Francisville.
Fairmount and Spring Garden are known as the Art Museum Area. This is because they are close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. You can also easily reach the Franklin Institute, Rodin Museum, and Barnes Foundation. But Fairmount has its own unique character. It thrives independently of these famous institutions. Young families like living here because it is close to green spaces. The food scene is also thriving. It’s now easier than ever to explore Fairmount.
Back in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries, European settlers farmed this area. Fairmount was outside Philadelphia’s city limits then. Prominent city families had country homes here. These included Bush Hill, White Hall, and Lemon Hill. Lemon Hill still overlooks the Schuylkill River. Fairmount was originally in Penn Township. Later, it became part of the Spring Garden District. In 1854, it was incorporated into Philadelphia.
During the American Revolution, British soldiers built defenses here. They started on Fairmount Hill and continued south of Fairmount Avenue to the Delaware River. This was to stop American troops under George Washington from attacking. The north was the only side of the city not protected by water.
Urban expansion began in the early 19th century. Three large and innovative institutions were built here. The first was the Fairmount Dam and Water Works. Starting in 1822, it used waterpower to pump water from the Schuylkill River. The water flowed into reservoirs on Fairmount Hill. From there, it went into city homes and businesses. It was an engineering marvel and a scenic attraction. Its buildings included a restaurant. They are early examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Protecting the drinking water was the reason for buying land along the Schuylkill. This land became Fairmount Park, one of the world’s largest municipal park systems. Charles Dickens wanted to see the Water Works when he visited Philadelphia.
The second institution was Eastern State Penitentiary. It opened in 1829. It was the first prison in the country built to reform criminals. Its hub-and-spoke layout became a model for hundreds of prisons. The system of solitary confinement led to despair among inmates. Dickens condemned it when he visited.
In 1831, Girard College was founded. Stephen Girard wanted to create a school for poor, orphaned white boys. Nicholas Biddle commissioned Founders Hall in Girard’s honor. The Hall is the first example of true Greek Revival architecture in the United States.
In the 1830s, Philadelphia grew. Homes and factories sprang up on Fairmount’s southern fringes. The Baldwin Locomotive Works was a major factor in the neighborhood’s development. Fairmount’s homes were generally smaller row houses. The residents were mostly working class. Lumber yards, coal yards, and iron foundries were interspersed with houses. Many were built to support factories and breweries. Fairmount has large houses built for managers and brewery owners dating back to the 1840s.
Fairmount is near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and its Rocky Steps. It is located at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This avenue connects City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This area is known as the Museum District. The Rodin Museum, Central Library, Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, and Barnes Museum are located here. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is also where most of Philadelphia’s large outdoor events are held.
Eastern State Penitentiary has become another draw for the neighborhood. You can take tours of this historic facility. It is also turned into a haunted house during Halloween. Because it looks like the Bastille, it is part of Philadelphia’s Bastille Day celebration. Fairmount truly blends art, history, and modern life.