Fairmount

Fairmount is a neighborhood in Lower North Philadelphia, known for its rich history, cultural landmarks, and proximity to the city’s renowned museums. Bordered by Fairmount Avenue to the south, Corinthian Avenue to the west, Girard Avenue to the north, and the Schuylkill River to the east, the neighborhood’s boundaries can vary depending on interpretation. Nearby areas such as Spring Garden, Franklintown, and Francisville are sometimes collectively referred to as Fairmount. Along with Spring Garden, Fairmount is often called the “Art Museum Area” due to its close ties to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It is also home to the historic Eastern State Penitentiary.

The name “Fairmount” comes from the prominent hill where the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands, originally intended as the site for William Penn’s manor house. The name later extended to Hickory Lane, now Fairmount Avenue, which runs through the heart of the neighborhood.

In its early days, Fairmount was primarily farmland, with European settlers cultivating the land during the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Wealthy Philadelphians established country estates in the area, including Bush Hill, White Hall, and Lemon Hill—the latter still standing with views of the Schuylkill River. Fairmount was originally part of Penn Township before becoming part of the Spring Garden District and later, in 1854, being incorporated into the City of Philadelphia.

During the American Revolution, British forces built defensive fortifications along Fairmount Hill, extending southward toward the Delaware River to protect against an attack by George Washington’s troops. The area saw major urban development in the 19th century, with three notable institutions marking its transformation.

One of these was the Fairmount Water Works, an engineering marvel completed in 1822. It harnessed the power of the Schuylkill River to pump fresh water into city reservoirs, supplying Philadelphia’s homes and businesses. The Water Works, designed in a Greek Revival architectural style, became not only a vital resource but also a scenic attraction, drawing visitors, including famed writer Charles Dickens.

Just a short distance away, the Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829 as the country’s first prison focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Its radial design set a precedent for penitentiaries worldwide, earning it the nickname the “Pennsylvania Model.” However, the prison’s strict solitary confinement policy led to severe psychological distress among inmates, a practice Dickens strongly criticized during his visit.

In 1831, Fairmount saw the establishment of Girard College, founded by Stephen Girard, one of America’s wealthiest men. Girard, an orphan himself, intended the institution to provide quality education for poor orphaned boys. The campus centerpiece, Founders Hall, was the nation’s first true Greek Revival building. In 1968, Girard College gained national attention when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to remove racial and gender restrictions from its admissions, setting a precedent for equal education.

During this time, Fairmount was still a suburban district, but as Philadelphia expanded in the 1830s, industry and housing developments emerged. The Baldwin Locomotive Works, once the country’s largest producer of locomotive engines, played a key role in the neighborhood’s growth. The presence of factories, breweries, and manufacturing sites led to the construction of worker housing, including small rowhomes alongside lumber yards, coal yards, and iron foundries. Meanwhile, larger homes were built for business owners and professionals, particularly in the 1840s.

Today, Fairmount is known for its cultural significance and accessibility to some of Philadelphia’s most iconic sites. The neighborhood sits at the western end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a grand, tree-lined boulevard modeled after Paris’s Champs-Élysées. This stretch, often called the “Museum District,” is home to institutions such as the Rodin Museum, the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Barnes Foundation.

Eastern State Penitentiary remains a focal point of Fairmount, now a historic site open for tours year-round. It also transforms into a haunted house attraction each Halloween and plays a role in Philadelphia’s annual Bastille Day celebrations due to its resemblance to the famous French prison.

Fairmount continues to blend history, culture, and urban living, making it one of Philadelphia’s most distinctive and dynamic neighborhoods.