Editing Fairmount Park (section)

== History ==

=== Origins ===

Fairmount Park was established in 1855, initially to protect the city's water supply from the [[Schuylkill River]]. The Fairmount Water Works, completed in 1815, drew drinking water from the river, and the city began acquiring land upstream to prevent industrial pollution.

The park's name comes from "Faire Mount," the hill where the Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands—named by William Penn for its commanding views of the river and city.

=== 1876 Centennial Exposition ===

The park gained international prominence as the site of the '''1876 Centennial Exposition''', America's first official World's Fair. The exposition celebrated the nation's 100th birthday and introduced Americans to inventions like Alexander Graham Bell's telephone and the Corliss steam engine.

Memorial Hall, built for the exposition, still stands in the park and now houses the Please Touch Museum. The exposition attracted over 10 million visitors and established Philadelphia as a center of industry and culture.

=== 20th Century Development ===

The park expanded throughout the 20th century, incorporating additional land and developing recreational facilities. The Philadelphia Zoo opened within the park in 1874, becoming America's first zoo. Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive were developed as scenic roadways along the river.