Public Opening: Friday, May 2, 2025 | 5:00–7:00 PM
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s new archives exhibit, “Mapping the Wissahickon: From the Colonial Era to an Evolving Watershed“, explores the Wissahickon Valley’s evolving landscape and the long-standing conservation efforts that continue to shape its future. Featuring over three centuries of historic maps, guides, and publications, the exhibit traces the valley’s transformation from early industry and urban expansion to the rise of modern environmental stewardship.
“For thousands of years, the Wissahickon Valley has served as a critical natural resource for people living in the area we now call Northwest Philadelphia,” said David Gest, Esq., Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Conservancy. “This exhibition begins in the area of Colonial settlement of the Valley, previously occupied by the Lenape, for industrial purposes, and extends to modern efforts to conserve the Valley’s natural resources, including through the Conservancy’s conservation easement program. We are very excited to mount our first public archives exhibit in over a decade, which will serve as a pilot for future displays.”
“This public display gives our collections new oxygen, breathing life into maps and materials that span from the 1740s to the present day,” Said Alex Bartlett, the Conservancy’s Curator and Archivist. “We’re excited to welcome neighbors, researchers, and visitors from throughout the Wissahickon watershed and beyond, and to highlight how this exhibit reflects the deep connection between our archival work and our easement program, which helps conserve over 100 acres of open space in the region.”
Another featured piece is a large, hand-drawn survey that began around 1780 and was updated into the 19th century. It shows early property lines, including the Livezey and George Carpenter estates, now near Carpenter’s Woods and Pelham. The Conservancy
intends to restore this historic artifact to improve its legibility for future research and public interpretation.
One highlight of the exhibit is a 1955 map from Studies of Crossings of the Wissahickon Valley, created during the post–World War II housing boom. It proposes nine road crossings through the valley—none of which were built—marking a shift toward the preservation of this green corridor amidst growing urban pressure.
Although the exhibit predominantly features items from the Conservancy’s own archive, it includes select items on loan, including a never-before-publicly-seen original map dating to the establishment of the Wissahickon Watershed Overlay Zoning District – shared by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission – and several colorful paintings of Wissahickon Valley life and scenery, on loan from Bowman Properties.
“We are grateful to our community partners for their interest in sharing their own historic resources to enliven this exhibit, and we look forward to future collaborations,” said Gest.
Exhibit Hours and Features (Beginning May 3):
- Open Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Free admission | Suggested $10 donation
- Self-guided format with staff and volunteer assistance available
- Family-friendly with scavenger hunts and coloring activities for children
This new exhibition reflects the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s ongoing commitment to public education and community engagement. Connecting the past with present-day conservation efforts illustrates how preserving history and open space is essential to sustaining the Wissahickon watershed for future generations.
This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of:
Anonymous, Bowman Properties, Ltd., Dan Preston and Alex Darling, Rebekah Grimes of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, and James McNabb.
Special thanks also to our yearlong sponsors and members, whose continued support sustains the Conservancy’s work throughout the year:
- Lead Sponsor: Chubb
- General Sponsors: Bowman Properties, Dennis F. Meyer Inc., Merrill Nottingham, Walsh, Goodman & Associates, Friends of the Wissahickon, George Woodward Co., and MIS Capital
About the Chestnut Hill Conservancy
The Chestnut Hill Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historical, architectural, and cultural resources, along with the open spaces, that define the character of Chestnut Hill and surrounding communities in the Wissahickon watershed. Founded over 55 years ago to protect and celebrate the area’s historic architecture, the Conservancy has protected over 105 acres of land through its easement program as the nation’s first urban-accredited land trust since 1990.
The Conservancy maintains a professionally curated archive with over 52,000 items accessible to the public and engages the community through educational programs, advocacy, and events. The organization has also documented thousands of structures, contributing to Chestnut Hill’s designation as a National Historic District.
For more information or any media inquiries, please contact Chrissy Clawson at [email protected] or 215-247-9329 x 108.