A Path on the Wissahickon Creek
unexpected pleasures in Germantown
a beautiful area
schools and education in Germantown
A Place of Natural Beauty
Germantown is a neighborhood of Victorian houses, shade trees, and hidden gardens. It includes the lower reaches of the Wissahickon Valley, the only Alpine valley in the world located entirely within a city boundaries. Its gardens are home to a variety of birds and other wildlife, including raccoons and possums, and at twilight on some streets near the Wissahickon you will see an occasional white-tailed deer. A ramble through the Tulpehocken Station Historic District or along the Wissahickon trails will revive the body and refresh the spirit.
A Partial List of Beautiful Places and Park Preservation Groups in Germantown
| Contact Information | Notes |
| Vernon Park 5818 Germantown Avenue (North of Chelten) Philadelphia, PA 19144 |
Located between Germantown Avenue and Greene Street in West Germantown, Vernon Park is the site of Vernon, the mansion of John Wister, as well as a number of other monuments and plantings. It is the site of the annual People's Festival. |
Friends of Vernon Park |
Neighborhood support group for Vernon Park. |
| Tulpehocken Station Historic District Tulpehocken-Walnut Sts. Philadelphia, PA 19144 |
Bordered by Tulpehocken Street, Wayne Avenue, Germantown Avenue, and Walnut Lane, "the Tulpehocken Station Historic District … provides a unique case study on the rise of the American suburb." (livingplaces.com) |
| Wissahickon Valley Fairmount Park Philadelphia, PA 19144 215-247-0417 |
Wonderful hiking and nature walks in the only urban Alpine-type valley in the world. Trail maps and information available by calling the listed number. |
| RittenhouseTown Off Lincoln Drive Philadelphia, PA 19144 215-438-5711 |
Located near the entrance to the Wissahickon Valley, this is the site of the first hand paper mill in America. Many workshops, especially on hand papermaking, available. |
| Friends of the Wissahickon 8708 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19118-2717 Phone: 215-247-0417 Email: office@fow.org |
The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) is a 1,600 member, non-profit organization founded in 1924 "to preserve the natural beauty and wildness of the Wissahickon Valley and stimulate public interest therein." |
| Awbury Arboretum Chew Street, east of Washington Lane Philadelphia, PA 19138 215-849-2855 |
57 Acres of gardens, lawns, and woodlands designed along the English landscape model. Special emphasis on educational programs for children. |
