Ice skating on Philly's rivers once a pastime, but don't try it now
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The good ol' times on the Schuylkill River in 1913. Photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Ice skating on the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers was once popular in Philadelphia.
Reality check: That was centuries ago.
- Now it's "exceptionally rare" for the rivers to freeze in the region, Alex Staarmann, a National Weather Service meteorologist, tells Axios.
State of play: Bitterly cold temps are sticking this week, causing parts of the Schuylkill River to appear frozen over.
- But don't get any ideas.
Threat level: While ice can form on the top level of the rivers, it becomes thinner the farther you go from the shoreline, Staarmann says.
- "It can appear safe but it's really not," he said, noting that it's unlikely to support a person.
"Our advice to those who might want to ice skate on the river? Just don't," Rachel Cunningham, a Philly Fire Department spokesperson, tells Axios.
Flashback: The Schuylkill and Delaware rivers would freeze regularly in the 18th and 19th centuries, providing ample opportunities for ice skating, per Hidden City.
- The Philadelphia Skating Club was located on the Schuylkill in the 1860s in what's now the oldest house on Boathouse Row.
Zoom in: People have ice skated on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers as recently as the early 20th century, Selena Austin, a spokeswoman for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, tells Axios.
- People would also bring horses and other animals on the ice as well.
Try this instead: Philly's got five free public ice skating rinks.
- Or you can pay to ice skate at Winterfest's RiverRink or the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink outside City Hall.