Join John Sigmund, Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships, for a 2.5 mile hiking tour to explore the history of brewing and beer gardens around East Fairmount Park. Naturally, we’ll end the hike at a modern-day park beer garden – Parks on Tap at Lemon Hill!

As the name of the Brewerytown neighborhood that borders East Park indicates, Philadelphia was a beer-brewing town. In fact, in the late 19th century, with over 30 breweries, we were the brewing capital of America! Before the city created the park, the banks of the Schuylkill River were valuable to emerging breweries for the harvesting and storage of ice and for the cold storage of lager beer in underground vaults. Also, after acquiring several historic houses with the establishment of Fairmount Park, the city sought ways to re-adapt them and the properties were leased as beer gardens enjoyed by a growing German population. The hike will discuss this and many other intoxicating aspects of beer history in Fairmount Park.