Living in Fairmount, Philadelphia, PA
To locals, Fairmount is known at the "Art Museum area" due to the prominence of museums in the neighborhood, especially the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which overlooks the entire neighborhood. Historically, Fairmount was the name given to the hill where William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, planned to build a manor. The Philadelphia Museum of Art now stands on that spot, which includes the stairs Sylvester Stallone scaled in the movie "Rocky." Interestingly, Fairmount, PA, claims the largest percentage of homeowners in the Philadelphia metro area and was once known as a working-class neighborhood. In recent years, the neighborhood has become attractive to young professionals, families and the creative crowd.
Things to do in Fairmount
There's a good reason the second name for Fairmount, Pennsylvania, is the Art Museum Area. Philadelphia's art museum row is located on the tree-lined Benjamin Franklin Parkway (inspired by Paris's Champs-Élysées) and includes the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation and the Rodin Museum. Plus, just one block off the parkway is The Franklin Institute, a family-friendly science museum along with The Academy of Natural Sciences. The parkway is also host to parades and major events throughout the year, including the Welcome America! week-long July 4th celebration and the Made in America music festival.
Fairmount Park, which adjoins the primary Fairmount residential area, is one of the largest urban parks in Pennsylvania and the United States, with over 4,100 green acres that straddle the Schuylkill River. The park also includes several notable attractions, including Boathouse Row, Fairmount Water Works and Bartram's Garden, the oldest surviving botanical garden in America.
Homes for Sale in Fairmount
Fairmount features some of the most impressive, turn-of-the-century townhouses in Pennsylvania. Many of these homes have brick exteriors and original wood details such as banisters and molding. Along with more modest row homes, these single-family units appeal to couples and singles as well as families. Fairmount real estate also includes luxury apartment buildings with upscale amenities, which are especially popular among young professionals in search of newer housing.
Transportation and Travel
The Fairmount Subway station is situated on the east side of Fairmount, making it easy to get to Center City and South Philly in a few stops and, with a transfer, West Philadelphia or Olde City. Several bus lines also travel through the neighborhood and take riders across town as well as east and west. For those who enjoy biking or walking, Fairmount is just a couple of miles from Center City, making it a great spot for those who may work or frequent the district.
