Discover how the Wissahickon Valley became the treasured green refuge it is today. This engaging workshop explores the forces that shaped the valley’s landscape and the efforts that preserved it, using historic maps, guides, and rare publications that both recorded and influenced its transformation. From early industry and expanding neighborhoods to major conservation victories, you’ll trace how Philadelphians worked to protect clean water, wildlife, and open space. The program also highlights modern stewardship by the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, Friends of the Wissahickon, which protects more than 105 acres today, and Wissahickon Trails. Featured materials come primarily from the Conservancy’s archives, with special loans including a never-before-seen map from the creation of the Wissahickon Watershed Overlay Zoning District and colorful paintings of valley life on loan from Bowman Properties Ltd. A standout highlight is a 1955 planning map proposing nine road crossings through the valley—none ever built—capturing a pivotal moment when preservation won over development. Presented by CHC Curator and Archivist Alex Bartlett, the talk spans four eras: Industry, Public Protection, Modern Urban Park, and Land Stewardship. Alex Bartlett is the Curator and Archivist at the Chestnut Hill Conservancy, overseeing archival collections and supporting research into the area’s architectural and cultural history. He began volunteering with the Conservancy in 2009 and was later hired as an Archivist. With a background in archaeology and collections management, Alex spent 12 years as an archaeologist at a cultural resources firm. A 40-year resident of the area, he was appointed Curator in 2024 following the retirement of longtime staff member Liz Jarvis. He holds a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from the University of the Arts and bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Earth Sciences from Temple University. Outside of work, he is a devoted husband and proudly owned by two cats.