Save the Date | Public Opening

For over 10,000 years, the Wissahickon Valley has been a place of connection between people and the land. The indigenous Lenape first traversed its forests and fields, relying on the valley’s natural resources for hunting, gathering, and settlement. This exhibit starts later, when mills, inns, and private homes reshaped the landscape as industry took hold. As Philadelphia expanded, the Wissahickon became central to efforts to safeguard the city’s water supply. Urban growth brought more visitors, heightening the need for conservation, which gained momentum during the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s. These efforts led to the creation of stewardship programs, including the Chestnut Hill Conservancy and Friends of the Wissahickon’s conservation easements, which now protect over 100 acres of open space.