Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain

April 3, 2009 - MAYOR DALEY CELEBRATES SEASON OPENING OF CLARENCE BUCKINGHAM MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

Constructed in 1927, the iconic Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain is the centerpiece of Grant Park— Chicago’s “ Front Yard.”

Philanthropist and art patron Kate Sturges Buckingham donated one million dollars for the fountain which was dedicated to the memory of her brother, Clarence. Chicago architect Edward Bennett designed the fountain in conjunction with French sculptor Marcel Loyau and engineer, Jacques H. Lambert. Inspired by the Latona Basin at Versailles, Bennett created an enormous structure with four basins clad in elaborately carved pink Georgia marble with granite details. Unlike the French fountain, the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain symbolizes Lake Michigan. It conveys the enormity of the Great Lake through its vast and impressive water displays. Some of the displays use approximately 15,000 gallons of water per minute, and the major display, which occurs every hour for 20 minutes, sprays water to a height of 150 feet from the ground. The lower basin provides a pool that extends 280 feet in diameter. Here Bennett decided to place four pairs of Art Deco style sea horses to represent the four states that border Lake Michigan.  The monument's original design included colored lighting to emulate soft moonlight. When the fountain was dedicated in August of 1927, John Philip Sousa conducted, as his band which played “Pomp and Circumstance,” before an audience of 50,000.

In winter 2008-09, the Chicago Park District, with support from Parkways Foundation, completed Phase I of the fountain restoration project.  Click here to read more about the restoration project. 

Help restore the fountain, donate today at www.restorethefountain.com.