Summer 2008

The Restoration Project
Please help restore Buckingham Fountain

The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of the nation's most significant monuments, is in dire need of restoration.

For more information, please visit Restore The Fountain.

Buckingham Fountain

About the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain

IF YOU'RE GOING
  • The Fountain, one of the largest in the world, is located at Columbus Drive (301 East) and Congress Parkway (500 South) in Grant Park
  • The Fountain runs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, typically from April to mid-October, depending on weather. Times are subject to change when large events take place in or around Grant Park.
  • In 2008, the Fountain will close on September 2 for renovation of the deteriorated infrastructure and address conservation treatment of the fountain's sculptural elements. In addition the renovation will include a restoration of the perimeter pathways and rehabilitation of the surrounding landscape, which includes updating the Fountain table to include American Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility.
  • While in operation, every hour on the hour for 20 minutes the Fountain produces a major water display and the center jet shoots 150 feet into the air. Beginning at dusk, every hour on the hour for 20 minutes the Fountain's major water display is accompanied by a major light and music display. The final display of the evening begins at 10:00 p.m.
HISTORY
  • One of Chicago's most popular attractions.
  • The Fountain opened on May 26, 1927. It was dedicated on August 26, 1927.
  • Edward H. Bennett designed the Fountain to represent Lake Michigan with four sea horses, built by Marcel Loyau, to symbolize the four states that touch the lake: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Bennett attributed the design specifically to the influence of the Latona Basin in Louis XIV's gardens at Versailles.
  • Kate Buckingham dedicated the structure to the people of Chicago in 1927 in memory of her late brother, Clarence. At the time, she also established a $300,000 trust fund to ensure that the taxpayers would never have to cover all of the repair and upkeep costs associated with the fountain.
  • The funds for the $2.8 million restoration that was done in 1994 came from the Buckingham Fountain Endowment Fund, which the Art Institute of Chicago has administered. Even today, funds from the Buckingham Fountain Endowment Fund will help fund a portion of the renovation slated for 2008-2009 renovation project.
  • The Fountain is constructed of Georgia pink marble.
  • The Fountain has remained intact except for a brief theft of two carved fish heads from the fountain, weighing several pounds each. The fish heads were recovered when a salvage place was offered the pieces and the buyer thought they looked very familiar and reported them.
STRUCTURE & WATER
  • The water displays are powered by three pumps:
    - Pump 3: 75 horsepower for 1,600 gallons of water a minute.
    - Pump 2: 190 horsepower for 5,500 gallons of water a minute.
    - Pump 1: 250 horsepower for 7,000 gallons of water a minute.
  • The Fountain has 134 jets in the following configurations:
    - 36 jets point upwards from the top basin, including a central jet to produce a 150-foot geyser.
    - 34 jets at the consoles.
    - 12 jets in the upper trough that arc into the top bowl.
    - 12 jets in the inner trough that arc into the upper trough.
    - 12 jets in the lower trough that arc into the inner trough.
    - 8 jets spout from the sea horses' mouths.
    - 20 isolated jets.
  • The Fountain's water capacity is 1.5 million gallons. Depending on wind conditions, major displays use approximately 14,100 gallons of water per minute conveyed through 134 jets. Water is re-circulated from the base pool after the basins are filled and not drawn from the outside except to replace losses from wind and evaporation.
  • The bottom pool of the fountain is 280 feet in diameter, the lower basin is 103 feet, the middle basin is 60 feet and the upper basin is 24 feet. The lip of the upper basin is 25 feet above the water in the lower basin.
    • The underground pump room is 35 feet long, 25 feet wide and 25 feet high.

LIGHTING

  • Kate Buckingham envisioned a fountain whose effect was that of "soft moonlight." She worked many nights with technicians, testing the various colors of the glass filters and currents to produce an ethereal, mystical aura.
  • The Fountain contains 820 lights in the following configurations:
    - 16 in top bowl.
    - 72 in upper trough.
    - 204 in inner trough.
    - 432 in lower trough.
    - 24 in the isolated jets.
    - 60 in the sea horses.
    - 12 in the bulrushes.
  • The computer known as the Honeywell Excel-Plus is located in the Fountain's pump house. The computer was moved here from Atlanta, Georgia, during the 1994 renovation.
  • The Fountain's alarm, a system similar to a store alarm, is monitored and dispatched through Honeywell Central Station in Arlington Heights.