The Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Archive (the Archive) helps preserve park and recreation resources and provide information to the public. The collection is key to understanding the architectural and landscape resources of the Philadelphia park and recreation system.
We estimate that there are more than 10,000 documents in the Archive. They include hundreds of original architectural and landscape drawings from the 1876 Centennial Exposition held in Fairmount Park.
You can find the following types of documents in the Archive:
- Books
- Current reports
- Fairmount Park Commission annual reports
- Fairmount Park Art Association annual reports
- Fairmount Park engineering records
- History files
- Photographs and prints
- Maps and drawings
Who
Anyone can make an appointment at the Archive.
The Archive is available by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
How
To visit the Archive, you need to make an appointment online.
Please review the online finding aids prior to making your appointment.
To make an appointment, fill out the form and submit.
After you submit, you will be contacted within a few business days to finalize your appointment time.