1. Turbines to Tanks: The Early Days of
the Philadelphia Aquarium at the
Fairmount Water Works
Samantha Muka
PhD Candidate
University of Pennsylvania
History and Sociology of Science

2. Why Philadelphia?
• One of the first states with a Fisheries
Department – Pennsylvania Fish
Commission(1866)
• Strong Network of People Interested in Fish
– Henry Fowler; Philadelphia Academy of Natural
Sciences
– William T. Innes; Publisher/Hobbyist/ Fish
Photographer
– Fish Commission and Fisherman on the Delaware

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1904 1911 1916 1921 1925 1928 1930 1931 1932 1933

4. William E. Meehan
1853-1930
• Son of Thomas Meehan – a well
known botanist and horticulturist in
Philadelphia (Germantown)
•First went into cut flower supply
business
•In 1885 became reporter for the
“Public Ledger” a Philadelphia
Newspaper
•Traveled as reporter/botanist to
Greenland with the Perry Relief
Expedition of 1892
•Interviewed Superintendent of
Fisheries (Henry C. Ford); writes
definitive history of PA fisheries for
Columbian Exposition, 1893
•After Ford’s death, appointed
superintendent of Fisheries and
eventually Commissioner
•Resigned in 1911- The same year
he became Superintendent of the
Philadelphia Aquarium at Fairmount
Park

5. 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair

6. Lambert, James The story of Pennsylvania at the World's Fair St. Louis, 1904, Vol. II

7. Meehan, William E. Fish, Fishes and Fisheries of Pennsylvania 1893

8. Why does Philadelphia Need an
Aquarium?
• Public Education
– People love looking at live fish!
• Nothing at the Water Works
– Water source readily available
– Equipment can be sold to pay for start up money
• Fisheries Purposes
– Hatchery
– Laboratory
• Government Interests
– Fur Seals

9. We’re not New York City…We’re
Better!
• Fisheries Bureau established in
1868 (two years after PA)
• Strong Fish Culture
– American Museum of Natural
History
– Brooklyn Aquarists Society
(1905)
• Aquarium opens in Battery
Park in 1896
• This is the largest, most talked
about aquarium in America by
the turn of the twentieth
century
• If they can do it, we can do
it…better.

10. Start of Philadelphia
Aquarium
• April 22, 1905
• March 16, 1911
• Use tanks from St.
Louis World’s Fair
• Sell water works
equipment for money
• Temporary Aquarium
•32 tanks
•All freshwater
fishes
•Alligators
•turtles

11. Opens Nov. 24, 1911
10,000 Visit New Park Aquarium
To Rave Reviews!
November 25, 1911
City’s Display Opened to the Public Proves a Big Attraction
Display to Be Increased
More than ten thousand persons sought admission to the Philadelphia
Aquarium in Fairmount Park, which is located at the old water works
between the Green Street entrance of the Park and the Spring Garden
Street bridge over the Schuylkill River. It opened to the public
yesterday, and when the doors were closed on account of darkness there When the other sections of the aquarium
were scores of disappointed ones unable to get a look in at the
fishes. are completed, Mr. Meehan will add
The picture of pleasure on the faces of those who passed within the
aquarium told forcefully that the display had met their expectation. It
tanks for snails, lobsters, crawfish and
was a great day for sportsmen, fish culturists and lovers of fish, who came
in groups from Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery Counties. So deep
crabs. In the two other buildings which
is the interest in Bucks County in the aquarium that a delegation from
Camp 53, of Doylestown, was present, many of the members having
will not be ready for two months, the fish
their wives and little ones with them. from the mansion room will be exhibited
Happy Days for Meehan
It was a happy day for William E. Meehan, in charge of the aquarium, who along with other varieties in a total of
has devoted a great portion of his life to the study and propagation
of fish, and the more the crowd increased in numbers, the more he
120 additional tanks. It is Mr. Meehan’s
seemed to appreciate that the city had pursued a course that met with
the approval of the people. The doors opened at nine o’clock, and from
intention just as soon as funds will
then until one o’clock only several hundred visitors passed in, but
after that hour they came by the hundred from various points in the Park.
warrant to establish in the back part of
Lawyers, physicians, merchants, manufacturers, mechanics and the forebay between the pumping
laborers, representing the thrifty industrial classes, lined up and moved
along side by side. station and the reservoir one of the
Judge George B. Orlady, of the Superior Court, accompanied by James F.
McLaughlin, chief of the Electrical Bureau, was one of the visitors.
largest pools for seals in the country.
The Judge, a fisherman and hunter from his boyhood days in the
mountains in the central part of the State, was delighted and took
Part of the station nearest to the
pleasure
in telling others of the different kinds of fish that each tank contained.
Schuylkill also will be utilized for salt
Monster Catfish water fish. The salt water will be brought
A freak catfish caught recently in the Delaware was the star attraction
among the individual fish and delayed the passing of the line longer from the ocean in tanks.
perhaps than all the fish put together. Though like a catfish in shape, his
color turned a milked white huge with pink eyes and fins. Meehan says he
is one of the Albino family so numerous decades ago on the coast of
Portugal.

12. Opens Nov. 24, 1911
Dear Madam:
to poor reviews
Philadelphia being my home city, I naturally dislike to constantly hear the unkind flings of New Yorkers at my birthplace of which I
have many reasons to be proud. I had an experience, however, yesterday that I think on investigation at your doorway almost, you
will be glad to see shall not occur to another visitor from New York.
I had read of the new Public Aquarium recently established at the old Fairmount Water Works,
and having visited the splendid Aquarium here, I went to see what Philadelphia has to exhibit. Of
course I was prepared to make all due allowance for the exhibition being new, expected a start in
a small way, but my pride was unnecessarily hurt by what I encountered, and being a woman, I
concluded the helpmate of our new and justly honored Mayor should know of it. I doubt not in good
time the approach down the lane will have a side walk that couples can pass on without one side-stepping into the gutter, but when
you step onto the platform leading to the left, to the Aquarium building, you will encounter dirt, ashes and litter disgusting to any
tidy housewife.
There was no excuse for this condition on such a sunshiny, beautiful day, for the janitor and a broom could have
corrected it in half an hour. At risk of my skirts and Sunday shoes, I crossed the long, dirty approach
and reached the door over which was the sign “public aquarium”. Around the sides and down
the middle were the usual glass cases containing minnows, perch, sun fish, bass, cat-fish, trout,
four little alligators and lots of mud turtles. I almost forgot to mention the lone bull-frog. This
was all right too for a starter, but the brown painted, unsightly boards skirting the top, with the
poorly executed pen and ink printed descriptive cards, certainly gave one the impression that
Philadelphia had gone economy mad. Any other Philadelphia typewriter girl would be glad to supplant these poor
house cards, if no public spirited printer be willing to present properly printed ones.
I am sure you have not paid a visit to the Public aquarium, but I wish you would, and put a flea in your husband’s ear.

13. April 2, 1913 Agitator- local newspaper
Sir- I am a Philadelphia born and bred, and as
agitation appears to be the order of the day I
herewith start some.
Entering the Fairmount Park at Callowshill
Street I shortly pass into an aquarium, housed
in a dingy, ramshackle building that has not
properly been touched up during the last 40
years. The aquarium is not a huge joke it is
simply a small joke- and to my uninstructed
mind is a positive farce for a city like
Philadelphia to ask its people to go to. After
viewing the small uninteresting fish display I
strolled northward through, or rather by, some
buildings that reminds one of the ruins of
Pompeii, for of all the disreputable shacks
allowed to stand and offend the eye the old
water works are the limit. I can remember
them away back 40 or more years ago and I
wonder if any paint or repairs have been
added to them in that time.

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1904 1911 1916 1921 1925 1928 1930 1931 1932 1933

15. G. Ralph Smith, WPA 1930s
Drawing of Aquarium, 1950s

16. Funding issues from the beginning
• money from selling of water works equipment
is tied up
– $1,500 from initial sale comes through but rest of
money not forthcoming
– Eventually get money in fits and starts
But, the work that needs to be done to
transform Turbines into Tanks is extensive
and expensive…

17. A building not meant for an Aquarium
June 30, 1914
I have to report that this
morning while the men
who are delivering the
boilers endeavored to
cross the forebay
bridge, they smashed
two-thirds of the South
railing, most of it falling
into the forebay. They
also smashed nearly one-
half the northern railing.

18. And it’s old

19. Sept. 24, 1915
My dear Dr. Townsend-
Enclosed please find my personal
check for $250.00 in payment of
the share of the fishes, for the
Fairmount Park
Aquarium, collected at Key West.
I placed your receipted bill
among my personal incidental
expenses. That enabled me to
have the money in my own
warrant and pay you a week or
two quicker than otherwise
would have been the case.
I am sorry to say we are in a
pretty bad mess.
Our money has suddenly given out and I only have glass enough for one side of the Sea
Water House and that I expect to start and put in next week so that it will be two or three
weeks yet before I can send for the fishes. I think it only fair that we should pay for the
keep as they are virtually in storage in your place and I would suggest that you keep a
separate account of the cost of the food that they require. I will try and get over some day
next week to see you.

20. October 19, 1915
Sir:
Owing to the lack of funds, you are
hereby notified that any work
performed by you for the
Commissioners of Fairmount Park is
done at your own risk, until the
pending appropriation is made by
Councils.
Yours Truly,
J.T. Vogdes
Chief Engineer
You will read this notice to all men on
your roll.

21. Eventually, we
have tanks
• Marine Hall finished in
1916
•25 stationary tanks
around the walls
•8 all glass tanks in the
center
•Contains largest fish
tank in the United
States
• Main Hall finished in
1922
• 43 tanks
• Large Seal “pool”
outside

22. So let’s put in the water!
Fresh Water Salt Water
• Source • Source
– Schulykill River – Off the coast of New York or New
– City Water Jersey
• Temperature – Open Ocean
– Warm water for some fishes • Temperature
• Bass, catfish, bluegill, sunfish – Warm water for some
– Cool water for others • Fishes collected in Key West- angel
fish, guppies, clown fish, etc.
• Salmon, herring, whitefish
– Cool water for others
• Flow • Any kind of North Atlantic variety
– Oxygenation of water of salt water fish
extremely important to health • Salinity
of fish
– How often do you change it?
• Cold water vs. warm water
– How much can you dilute it?

23. Fresh Water
• Schuylkill water does not sustain a lot of fish
varieties
– Different species need different water
– Pollution
• City filtered water works for most species but…
– de chlorinated with filters
– Need a proper flow to keep it oxygenated and clean
– Heated or cooled depending on the season
• Heating system
• Cooling system (ice)

24. Cooling System

25. Salt Water
• Berlin Aquarium (1869) uses artificial
saltwater, but most aquariums think that the
fish do not like it.
• New York Aquarium has used the same salt
water for almost 20 years (1896). Just mix in
new water to keep salinity constant.
– After using water off the coast of NY, they decide
to use open ocean water and suggest that Philly
do the same

28. We have water!
• Warm fresh water
– City water supply
– 1919 4 inch pipe replaced with 6 inch; from 130,000
gallons a day to over 150,000 gallons a day
• Cold fresh water
– Artesian well drilled 1926
– Filter added 1927 because of iron content
• Warm salt water
– 1916 first delivery of salt water from gulf ($)
– 1920 Moore & McCormack Steamship Company
delivers salt water to Philadelphia docks for free-

29. Let’s add displays…
June 21, 1914
Dear Sir:
We are sending you tomorrow by Adams
Express from Newport, NY, a large and
very fine specimen of Sea Turtle. Will
arrive in Philadelphia Monday evening. If
you will kindly arrange for delivery on
Monday night or early Tuesday morning,
it will be a relief to the animal.
Yours Truly,
A.H. Allen

30. Apr. 19, 1914
I am preparing for my usual
Spring seal business. I
thought I would drop you a
line to see if you wished any
seals from the Park
And if so, to kindly let me know
as soon as possible.
Respectfully,
Janet MacDonald

31. Sept. 18, 1915
Yours of the 16th received. I
will be on the lookout for the
seals and will be glad to
receive them.
Do you keep your Aquarium
during the winter? If
not, instead of releasing the
fish in your tanks, if you have
no use for them I will be very
glad to have them, and
possibly next summer, when
you open up I might be able
to let you have something
that you do not posses and
cannot get in return.
If you do not carry your fish and turning them over to me meets with your approval, I
would, of course, send the can for them and pay all express charges.

33. Report of the Department of Fisheries, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1910-1911

35. Wayne County Hatchery #4

43. I have a very peculiar case of fatality among
one special species of fish- the pearl roach or
German rudd-the source of which I have
been unable to identify.
Perhaps some six weeks ago, out of about 25
or 30 pearl roach on exhibition, one suddenly
darted to the surface, then slightly turned
over. For an hour or more, nothing abnormal
happened, then it repeated the performance.

44. October 26, 1918
There were received 663 fish
of which 354 were sea and
309 fresh water fish. The
deaths were 454 of which
167 were sea water and 287
fresh water fish. Nearly one
hundred of the deaths
among the sea water fish
was due to an unavoidable
accident one night and the
excess deaths of fresh water
fish was due to a shortage of
both supply and pressure in
the month of June.

45. Seals and Sea Lions

47. We have sustainable displays
• Fresh Water
– Hatcheries
– Caught by aquarium staff
– Donated/shared
• Salt Water
– 1916 Key West trips with Boston, New York and
Detroit (Mowbray heads expedition with NYA
funds)
– 1925 Aquarium takes its own trips (Van Deusen)
Fish fatalities become less and less as the aquarium staff
learns to take care of the exhibits. (or, at least, they
don’t make the same mistake twice)

50. City La Jolla, CA New York, NY Detroit, MC Philadelphia, PA
Scripps New York Belle Isle Fairmount Park
Institution Aquarium Aquarium Aquarium
Owned by University of City City City
California
Controlled by Regents of the New York Zoological Department of Parks Fairmount Park
University Society and Boulevards Commission
When opened 1916 Dec. 10, 1896 1904 Nov. 24, 1922,
complete*
Annual Maintenance --- $70,000 $28,000 $30,453
Cost
Exhibition tanks 19 89 58 114
Linear Feet glass 72 455 280 511
permanent wall tanks
Number of exhibits 1,350 3,700 4,837 2,749
(1927)
fishes 1,300 2,700 4,600 2,438
mammals none 2 4 none
Persons employed 3 29 6 (and 4 part time) 21
*Tropical House opened June 15, 1915; temporary aquarium opened Nov. 24, 1911
Compiled by Ida M. Mellen (1927) for NYA and published in The Public Aquarium: Its construction,
equipment, and management Charles H. Townsend: Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 1045, 1928

51. Acknowledgements
• Director Karen Young and Ellen Schultz Education and
Outreach Coordinator- Water Works Interpretive
Center
• Adam Young- Archivist and Paul Fugazzatto- Public
Relations- Philadelphia Water Department Archives
• Rob Armstrong- Fairmount Park Archives
• David Baugh- Philadelphia City Archives
• Archivists at the American Philosophical
Society, Philadelphia Museum of Natural
History, Franklin Institute , the Temple Urban Archives
• History and Sociology of Science; University of
Pennsylvania