The “High Service Pumping Station,” now housing the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, was designed by architect Arthur H. Vinal in 1886-1887. Sitting on the original Chestnut Hill Reservoir & Pumping Station, the building consists of the Great Engines Hall, housing three historic steam-powered pumping engines, and a glass-enclosed viewing pavilion. The museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the historic facilities that first supplied the City of Boston with clean drinking water. It presents unique stories of this early system through exhibitions on engineering, architecture, social history, and public health. Interactive kiosks and interpretive panels, along with rotating exhibits, connect visitors to the museum’s history and collections. 

Metropolitan Waterworks Museum
Architect: A.M. Vinal / E. H. Wheelwright
Year: 1887 / 1898

617-277-0065  |  Wheelchair accessible