Between 1800 and 1830, Philadelphia buried miles of wooden water pipes to carry millions of gallons of Schuylkill River water into the city. These pipes serviced homes and businesses, but also provided water to clean dirty city streets. And in a fire emergency, firefighters dug down to the closest wooden water pipe, drilled a hole through the log, and siphoned water to battle deadly flames.

"Downstream" Exhibition
Science History Institute
Philadelphia, PA

09.18.21