From Creek to Sewer: A Tour of Historic Wingohocking Creek

Led by Adam Levine, Environmental Historian, Author, and Consultant, Philadelphia Water Department
Like any natural area in this well-watered part of the country, Philadelphia was once laced with a complex system of streams and their tributaries, many of which are now hidden underground. To provide level land for new homes, protect the health of our citizens, and provide drainage for expanding neighborhoods, city engineers in the 19th and 20th centuries re-channeled most of these waterways into massive sewers that now run far beneath the streets. Join Adam Levine on this fascinating bus tour that will follow the winding course of the Wingohocking Creek. Once a major tributary to Frankford Creek that provided power for many factories, the Wingohocking now runs in a sewer that drains several neighborhoods, including Mt. Airy, Germantown, Olney, Feltonville, and Juniata. We’ll stop at points of interest along the way, including Awbury Arboretum and Belfield, home of Charles Willson Peale on the LaSalle University campus. You’ll also learn more about watersheds, and how you can help protect the streams in your neighborhoods. This tour is co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Water Department and the Morris Arboretum. Meet at the Morris Arboretum. We will travel by small bus. People should be capable of getting in and out of the bus and walking on uneven terrain. Bring a snack and something to drink. A restroom break will be available.
Saturday, September 28
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Members: $40 Non-members: $45

To register, visit https://online.morrisarboretum.org/classes/behindthescenes