The Neighborhood of Fairmount, Philadelphia's Art Museum Area




The Neighborhood of Fairmount Philadelphia's Art Museum Area

Morris' Hill

Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence and financier of the American Revolution, bought the lands along the Schuylkill just north of the city in 1770. He called the area "The Hills" and Faire Mount was renamed Morris Hill. Morris built several greenhouses and grew the first lemon trees in America. This is why the "The Hills" eventually were called Lemon Hill. Morris went bankrupt and was thrown into debtor's prison. His real estate was sold at auction in 1799.

Morris Hill was given its old name of Fairmount (with a small change in spelling) in the 1820's, just after the reservoir for the Fairmount Waterworks was constructed.

The street which extended from Fairmount to Broad Street was name Morris Street, until 1852, when it was renamed Spring Garden, the name of the street from Broad to the Delaware.

History Menu
Before Philadelphia Penn's Plan Morris' Hill Fairmount Waterworks Fairmount Sports Association Street Names Historic Maps
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