Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: architecture, Chicago

Like I said… when I turned the corner in Millennium Park, kinda close to the Art Institute…
I turned and noticed that another major harbinger of Spring was right there in front of me.
The Buckingham Fountain had been turned on!

This elaborate fountain is possibly the most recognizable landmark in Chicago.
All Winter, the fountain is closed down, boarded up and packed away for the season.
Each Spring, it’s an exciting event when the fountain returns… as Spring is here!!!
And for those of you who may not have ever been to Chicago, but did watch the TV classic
“Married With Children”… well, then you’ve already seen it there too!

And here’s you quick history lesson…
Buckingham Fountain sits in the center of Grant Park and is the most significant feature.
A gift to Chicago from Kate Buckingham, in memory of her brother, it was dedicated in 1927
as the world’s largest decorative fountain. The design is based on the Latona Fountain at
Versailles, France. It consists of three Georgia pink marble circular basins of 24-foot, 60-foot
and 103-foot diameters, siting on a 280-foot wide bottom pool. Together they hold 1,500,000
gallons of water recirculating 14,000 gallons a minute through 133 jets, with the central jet
reaching 137 feet into the air. The fountain symbolizes Lake Michigan and the four groups
of bronze “sea horses” represent the four States around it.

The fountain is stunning from every side – especially with the sun glistening through.
And depending on which way the wind is blowing, you might get a fine misting too!

6 Comments

Phil Troyer

April 15th, 2011

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nancy

April 15th, 2011

Many, many moons ago, I was also riding my bike along the lakefront on a Spring day. As I rode past Buckingham Fountain, it was turned on for Spring. That was very cool.

Thanks for the photos,
Nancy

April 15th, 2011

NANCY -Ah, yes… I too remember those days fondly… looking back at them longingly… and wish you were here to pedal with me more often. Too bad LaGrange doesn’t have a fountain like this, huh?

Kathy

April 15th, 2011

Thanks for the history lesson. I didn’t know most of that about the fountain.

April 15th, 2011

Really beautiful Gary…thanks. Welcome springtime!

April 15th, 2011

That’s because you’re still a “girl from the ‘burbs”!!!

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