Set between the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the sculpture filled stretch of parkland along the Schuylkill River is our neighborhood of Fairmount Park – the largest urban landscaped park in the world. Within the 9,000 plus acres of Fairmount Park, you’ll find a Japanese House, our country’s first Zoo with more than 1,000 animals, countless picnic areas, boat ramps, and multiple public golf courses. Historic museums, homes, and government buildings dot the landscape, along with hundreds of outdoor sculptures and monuments and over 200 miles of trails.
The Schuylkill River is a lifeline to Philadelphia. In the past, heading down river from the wilderness were ships bringing building supplies, raw goods, furs, and coal. Ships came in from the ocean, traveled into the Delaware River and west on the Schuylkill River to the bustling city of Philadelphia. Navigation on the river was difficult once past the bright city shores. A lighthouse erected in 1887 on the first bend in the river guided ships safely past the city. Known as the Light on Turtle Rock, the lighthouse stands today, surrounded by the historic Sedgeley Club building. For more information on our surroundings in Fairmount Park, visit http://www.phila.gov/PARKSANDRECREATION/PLACESTOGO/Pages/default.aspx and http://www.visitphilly.com/outdoor-activities/philadelphia/fairmount-park/.