The iconic Fairmount Water Works in Philadelphia is facing an existential threat as it struggles to adapt to the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns brought about by climate change. The facility, which has been a National Historic Landmark since 2007, was once a marvel of engineering and innovation but now finds itself on the brink of collapse due to its inability to withstand the rising waters.
The stormy night of Hurricane Ida in 2021 marked a turning point for Young, the executive director of Fairmount Water Works. The hurricane's deluge of rain threatened to destroy the facility, forcing Young and her staff to evacuate and dismantle their exhibits just hours before they were set to open. The aftermath left behind a trail of destruction, with rust spreading across the walls and temporary repairs struggling to hold back the water.
This incident has become all too familiar for Young and her team, who now live in constant fear of another flood. "It feels like we all have PTSD from experiencing this amount of flooding," she admitted in an interview. The reality is stark: either Fairmount Water Works adapts to the changing climate or it will collapse under the pressure.
Young's team has been working tirelessly on a three-phase plan to protect the facility, which includes installing exhibits that can be easily removed or lifted during emergencies and using steel and other water-resistant materials. However, with only $650,000 raised so far, the project remains woefully underfunded.
The Fairmount Water Works is not an isolated case; many of Pennsylvania's beloved historical sites are facing a similar threat. With the state ranking third in the nation for National Historic Landmarks, the stakes are high. "It's becoming a critical, absolute need" to prioritize climate adaptation for these sites, warned Seri Worden, senior director of preservation programs at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The story of Fairmount Water Works serves as a poignant reminder of the power of place and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage in the face of an ever-changing world. As Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, another UNESCO World Heritage site, has learned, the very thing that inspired its architecture – the rushing water – can also be its greatest enemy.
In order to save these sites, it will require a concerted effort from both public and private sectors, as well as a willingness to rethink traditional approaches to preservation. As Marty Hylton, former historic architect for climate change at the National Park Service, pointed out, "What's happening is that now it's really falling to the private sector and local communities to step up."
The Fairmount Water Works stands as a testament to humanity's enduring relationship with nature – a power that can be both beautiful and destructive. As Young gazed out over the sparkling river from her office window, she seemed to grasp the significance of this moment: "I have a huge amount of respect for water and what it does."
The stormy night of Hurricane Ida in 2021 marked a turning point for Young, the executive director of Fairmount Water Works. The hurricane's deluge of rain threatened to destroy the facility, forcing Young and her staff to evacuate and dismantle their exhibits just hours before they were set to open. The aftermath left behind a trail of destruction, with rust spreading across the walls and temporary repairs struggling to hold back the water.
This incident has become all too familiar for Young and her team, who now live in constant fear of another flood. "It feels like we all have PTSD from experiencing this amount of flooding," she admitted in an interview. The reality is stark: either Fairmount Water Works adapts to the changing climate or it will collapse under the pressure.
Young's team has been working tirelessly on a three-phase plan to protect the facility, which includes installing exhibits that can be easily removed or lifted during emergencies and using steel and other water-resistant materials. However, with only $650,000 raised so far, the project remains woefully underfunded.
The Fairmount Water Works is not an isolated case; many of Pennsylvania's beloved historical sites are facing a similar threat. With the state ranking third in the nation for National Historic Landmarks, the stakes are high. "It's becoming a critical, absolute need" to prioritize climate adaptation for these sites, warned Seri Worden, senior director of preservation programs at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The story of Fairmount Water Works serves as a poignant reminder of the power of place and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage in the face of an ever-changing world. As Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, another UNESCO World Heritage site, has learned, the very thing that inspired its architecture – the rushing water – can also be its greatest enemy.
In order to save these sites, it will require a concerted effort from both public and private sectors, as well as a willingness to rethink traditional approaches to preservation. As Marty Hylton, former historic architect for climate change at the National Park Service, pointed out, "What's happening is that now it's really falling to the private sector and local communities to step up."
The Fairmount Water Works stands as a testament to humanity's enduring relationship with nature – a power that can be both beautiful and destructive. As Young gazed out over the sparkling river from her office window, she seemed to grasp the significance of this moment: "I have a huge amount of respect for water and what it does."
? climate change is like totally real and it's affecting these historical sites in Philly. Fairmount Water Works is struggling so hard to stay dry 
. I mean, I get it, the weather is getting wilder and more unpredictable, but that doesn't mean we should just sit back and let our history crumble 
. The team there is doing everything they can, but they need more funding, like, stat 
! We gotta come together as a community to help these places out. It's not just about the Water Works, though - it's about preserving our cultural heritage for future generations 
omg this is so crazy I mean Fairmount Water Works has been around since 1812!! how can something that's supposed to be historic like that be threatened by climate change?! it's not just Fairmount, though - I've seen pictures of other museums and historical sites in PA getting flooded too. what's the deal with all this? we need to do something ASAP! 
It's all well and good that they're trying to adapt, but where's the funding? Like, $650k is a tiny drop in the ocean compared to what's at stake here. Can't they just prioritize climate change mitigation instead of just patching things up with Band-Aids? 
It's not like this is a new problem, we've been warning about it for years. We need to stop playing politics with our cultural heritage and just take action already! 
it's not just about the water tho it's about how we're failing to adapt as a society 
i mean what kind of world do we live in where we have to rely on private sector funding instead of prioritizing our cultural heritage 
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I remember visiting Philly back in the 90s when that waterworks was still relatively new and all shiny. Never thought we'd be facing issues like this, climate change and all 
. Hope they get some help, it'll break our hearts to see that place go 
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. It's like, we're only just starting to feel the effects of climate change, but it seems like we're already behind the curve 
. We need to get moving on this issue before it's too late! 
it's like we're forgetting that the very thing that makes these places beautiful is also what can destroy them ... we need to step up and support these efforts or risk losing a piece of our history for good 
Climate change is literally flooding our history 
The Fairmount Water Works in Philly is on the brink of collapse due to rising waters 
, might be lost forever 
by Frank Lloyd Wright got flooded? 
And I'm all for the private sector and local communities stepping up 
It's time for us to get creative and think outside the box (or in this case, the exhibit hall 
. I mean, can't we just get some flood insurance or something? Like, is $650k really that much? I'm sure the $1Billion+ renovation of Fallingwater didn't strain the Frank Lloyd Wright estate too much 
. Anyway, sounds like our beloved historical sites are gonna be like, totally underwater 
like 5 years ago. I remember seein' that storm surge forecast for Philly and thinkin', "No way, that's not gonna happen here..." 
Fast forward to today, and it's like we're facin' a climate apocalypse 
. I mean, can't we just preserve the old stuff for once? 
it's not just about adaptating infrastructure, we need to rethink how we preserve our history in the face of an ever-changing world 
the fact that they're having to evacuate exhibits and dismantle them just hours before opening is just heartbreaking 
the national trust for historic preservation is warning us that climate adaptation is becoming a critical need 
it can't just be about saving the buildings, but also about preserving the stories and history behind them 
. It's great that the team at Fairmount Water Works is working hard to adapt, but $650k just isn't enough 
And you're right, it's not just Fairmount Water Works, our historical sites need a serious update ASAP