Opened to the public in 2011, the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum in Boston is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of the pumping industry. Not only does the museum contain remarkable exhibits—including three mammoth steam pumping engines—but it is also housed within the historic Chestnut Hill High Service Pumping Station building, a site that delivered drinking water to the higher elevations of Boston for nearly 100 years.
To learn more about the museum and the history of the station, we spoke with Eric Peterson (executive director) and Martin Perlmutter (president).
Q: Why was the Waterworks Museum founded?
Decommissioned and left to decay in the late 1970s, the Chestnut Hill High Service Pumping Station—the once-proud flagship station of Boston’s water system—was threatened with demolition in the mid-1990s. A private preservation group saw great cultural value in the Richardsonian-Romanesque structure and the largely intact steam-powered pumping equipment inside. As part of a legislative mandate, the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum was conceived as a free admission public entity, though we rely on the generosity of the public and companies appreciating this historic facility.
Q: What are some notable exhibits the museum has had over the years?
The museum houses three mammoth steam pumping engines that serviced one of the country’s earliest metropolitan water systems, supplying over 65 million gallons per day (MGD) to reservoirs that serviced an increasing population moving to higher elevations. The Leavitt Engine (1894) (550 horsepower [hp]/20 million gallons per day [mgd]) is a national landmark and is the centerpiece of the facility.
The museum’s Overlook Gallery has housed many exhibitions, including an examination of ancient methods of water delivery, highlights of the drafting skills of 19th century water system engineers, insight into the life of workers on 19th century civil engineering projects (such as construction of massive reservoirs east of Boston) and a focus on the devastating impact of the Great Boston Fire of 1872, further reinforcing the need for pressurized fire protection. The museum also frequently hosts smaller, more alternatively themed exhibitions, which have included student poster contests, a private collection of cast-iron stoves and site-specific artists’ installations.
Q: Why do you think the museum is an important addition to the community?
The museum offers an immersive experience that books and articles cannot provide. For engineering students, the visual impact of actual machinery is invaluable. It provides access into many aspects of history that are often overlooked, especially regarding the growth of cities.
Q: What educational programs does the museum offer?
The Waterworks Museum offers nine distinct hands-on curriculum-based programs for students of all ages, engaging curious young minds with STEM concepts, urban and industrial history, public health issues and water conservation strategies. All these programs connect to curriculum standards for their respective grade levels. We also engage groups from local colleges, plentiful in Boston, that often include assignments requiring study in the Engines Hall.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like readers to know about the museum or the history it preserves?
With centrifugal pumps now the standard in aqueous systems, it is vital we save entities such as the Metropolitan Waterworks, which showcase a time when circumstances and the need for solutions didn’t have the luxury of modern technology assistance. We welcome all visitors to Boston to visit us and experience the grandeur of pumping solutions from an era long gone but not forgotten. For more information, visit waterworksmuseum.org.