Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

The Park Grounds

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, is the 9,200-acre municipal park system in Philadelphia. Fairmount Park is actually made up of 63 neighborhood parks, which together take up 10 percent of the land in Philadelphia. Fairmount Park's rich history as the location of the 1976 Centennial Exposition and home of the first zoo in the United States earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Recreational Activities

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, over 215 miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails, ranging from simple sidewalks to challenging off-road paths for hikers and mountain bikers.  Local equestrians even trailer their horses to Fairmount Park to enjoy the lush green space.  There are six golf courses, 34 miles of waterways, and 139 picnic sites if you want to enjoy a leisurely walk and an outdoor lunch.

Japanese House and Garden

The Shofuso Japanese House and Garden is known affectionately as the Japanese House to Philadelphia locals. The house dates back to 1958, when it was moved to Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, from its original home at the Museum of Modern Art. The house is a gift to Philadelphia from the Japanese people, and is regarded as a cultural treasure nestled in Fairmount Park. The Japanese House is located on the Horticulture Center and offers daily tours so visitors can marvel at the gorgeous murals that set this landmark apart.

Public Art

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, is renowned for its public art, including the Florentine Lions outdoor sculpture that dates back to 1887. Fairmount Park currently has over 200 sculptures and offers walking tours of select pieces of artwork.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is one of the largest art museums in the country, is located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. Its 225,000-piece collection spans 2000 years. The museum in Fairmount Park has paintings by notable artists like Rubens, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet and Dali.

Philadelphia Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo sits on 42 acres in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, and features a wide variety of animals, including many endangered species. Zoo inhabitants include lowland gorillas, snow leopards, orangutans, giraffes, and giant tortoises. The zoo in Fairmount Park is very family friendly, with a children's zoo, paddleboats, and a carousel.

Organic Recycling Center

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, has a well-known organic recycling center as another way it contributes to green living in Philadelphia. The Fairmount Park center accepts materials like leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, wood chips, brush, and manure from herbivores.

Learn about other fun things to do in Philadelphia.