Great Escape - Buildings of Fairmount Park

It is amazing how a person can live his or her entire life in the same area and not discover all the wonderful places hidden just off the beaten path or, in the case of the buildings of Fairmount Park, and Fairmount Park Water Works Interpretive Center, standing in plain sight! A small but interested group of our members toured Strawberry Mansion and Woodford, two of the seven historic homes in Fairmount Park that are now maintained by different public and private groups. Extremely knowledgeable docents led us through the very different homes, detailing the history of the structures, their builders and various owners, current furnishings and so much more. We enjoyed lunch at Rembrandt's Restuarant near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, then dropped by the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center. Beneath the beautiful building that houses the historic water works is an informative and interactive museum suitable for kids and adults. Truly, all Philadelphians should spend an hour visiting this fascinating (and free!) museum.