A Brief History of Fairmount Park, PA

The car accident attorneys in Fairmount Park, PA, present this article to offer some detailed information about the area.

Fairmount Park is the largest municipal park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Spanning 1,052 acres, the park is divided by the Schuylkill River into two East and West Park sections. The park consists of walking trails, sports fields, gardens, public art, several historic locations, and a reservoir.

Fairmount Park is so grand that it belongs to seven ZIP codes including, 19121, 19130, 19104, 19103, 19132, 19131, and 19129.

History

Fairmount Park was built in 1812 and was Philadelphia's first park. The original park consisted of three domains, including South Park, commonly referred to as South Garden, Old Park, known for hosting the estates of Lemon Hill and Sedgeley, and West Park, which now host the Philadelphia Zoo and Centennial Explosion Grounds.

The park was originally a large piece of land known as the Lemon Hill estate owned by successful merchant-trader and real estate developer Henry Pratt. The city purchased the estate in 1844 and expanded the park to later dedicate it to the public on September 15, 1855.

Since its founding, Fairmount Park has remained a central feature of the city. By 1858, the city held a design competition to revitalize the former estate and better protect the city's water supply.

The park continued to grow in popularity. By 1876, the park became the site of the Centennial Exposition and the Philadelphia Zoo, the first zoo in the United States. These notable additions allowed Fairmount Park to be added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 7, 1972.

The park has continued to develop and remains a favorite attraction for many Philadelphians.

Historic Places

Fairmount Park holds such a rich history and continues to be a prominent element of Pennsylvania's history. The park hosts several historic landmarks reflecting the park's long, historical journey. Some of the park's most notable historical places include,

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

• Originally chartered for the Centennial Exposition, the main building, completed in 1928, is now an art museum containing over 240,000 artifacts. The museum is known for its extensive American, European, and Asian paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, drawings, among other articfacts. The museum is a local and national favorite known for its special exhibitions and renaissance classics.

The Philadelphia Zoo

• America's first zoo opened in 1874 and hosts nearly 1,300 animals, including rare and endangered species. The zoo spans 42 acres and consists of a children's petting zoo, a rainforest-themed carousel, a paddle-boat lake, a ropes course, and several interactive exhibits. Since the zoo opened its door in 1874, it has remained a prominent tourists attraction with an average of 1.2 million visitors annually. The zoo has consistently been ranked as one of the top zoological destinations in the United States and is a must-see for anyone visiting Fairmount Park.

The Underground Railroad Museum

• Located at 2000 Belmont Mansion Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131, adjacent to the Belmont Mansion, the museum is the oldest chartered American Civil War institution in the United States. Founded in 1888, the museum hosts a large collection of artifacts relating to the Civil War. Through recorded testimonials of former slaves and several other exhibitions, you can learn all about the role of the Peters family and the use of their property for the Underground Railroad.

Want to learn more? See the related: The History and Community of East Falls, PA

Our Local Office

If you or a loved one sustained injuries from a car accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Trust the Fairmount Park, PA, car accident attorneys to help you get the justice you deserve. Contact our legal team for a free consultation.

Justice Guardians
100 Presidential Blvd
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
(610) 424-2007