Buckingham Fountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Buckingham Fountain
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
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 Location in Central Chicago
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chicago |
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| Area | Downtown Chicago |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Bennett, Edward H.;
Lambert, Jacques H.; Loyau, Marcel Francois |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Art Decomo |
| Part of | Grant Park (ID92001075) |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1993 |
The Buckingham Fountain is a famous Chicago Landmark located in the heart of Grant Park. It sits between Queen's Landing and the end of Ida B. Wells Drive. Opened in 1927, this beautiful fountain was a gift to the city from a kind person named Kate S. Buckingham. It is one of the biggest fountains in the world!
The fountain has a fancy, layered style, much like a giant wedding cake. Its design was inspired by the famous Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles in France. The Buckingham Fountain's design also tells a story about nearby Lake Michigan. It usually runs from mid-April to mid-October each year. During this time, you can see regular water-jet displays and colorful light shows in the evenings. In the winter, the fountain is decorated with festive lights.
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Discovering Buckingham Fountain
The area around the fountain is often called Chicago's "front door." This is because it's right in the middle of Grant Park, which is like the city's big front yard. The fountain itself represents Lake Michigan. It features four pairs of sea horses, with two sea horses in each set. These sea horses symbolize the four states that touch Lake Michigan: Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.
The fountain was designed by Edward H. Bennett, an architect known for the Beaux-Arts style. This style is known for being grand and classical. The beautiful statues on the fountain were created by French sculptor Marcel F. Loyau.
A Gift to Chicago
The Buckingham Fountain was a special gift to the city from Kate Sturges Buckingham. She donated it to honor her brother, Clarence Buckingham. That's why its official name is the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain. Building the fountain cost $750,000, which was a very large sum of money back in the 1920s!
Kate Buckingham also set up a special fund with $300,000. This money helps pay for the fountain's upkeep and repairs, ensuring it can keep running for a long time. The Buckingham Fountain officially opened on August 26, 1927. In August 2016, the area around the fountain started offering free Wi-Fi to visitors. This was a team effort with the City of Chicago and the Chicago Parks District.
How the Fountain Works
Lots of people, both visitors and locals, come to see the fountain every year. It usually runs every day from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM. This typically happens from early May until mid-October, depending on the weather.
Water Shows and Lights
Every hour, on the hour, there's a special water show that lasts for 20 minutes. During these shows, the main water jet shoots an amazing 150 feet (about 46 meters) into the air! After sunset, the shows become even more magical with colorful lights and music. The final show of the night starts at 10:00 PM.
Inside the Fountain
The fountain is made from beautiful pink marble from Georgia. It holds about 1.5 million gallons (5.7 million liters) of water. During a show, over 14,000 gallons (53,000 liters) of water per minute are pumped through its 193 different jets!
The bottom pool of the fountain is 280 feet (85 meters) wide. The lower basin is 103 feet (31 meters) wide, the middle basin is 60 feet (18 meters) wide, and the top basin is 24 feet (7 meters) wide. The top basin sits 25 feet (7.6 meters) above the water in the lowest pool. A special computer system controls the fountain's pumps. This system was updated in 1994 and moved into the fountain's pump house. The fountain's security is watched over from Arlington Heights, a nearby suburb.
Keeping the Fountain Beautiful
In 1994, the fountain had a big renovation costing $2.8 million. This fixed leaks in its three smallest basins, which were caused by Chicago's cold winters.
The most recent major renovation project on Buckingham Fountain started in September 2008. This project had three parts. It aimed to update old systems inside the fountain and fix parts that had worn out. Money for this work came from the Buckingham fund, city and park district money, and even a grant from the Lollapalooza music festival, which happens near the fountain every year.
Phase I: A Smoother Path
Phase I of the renovation was finished on April 3, 2009. This phase added special permeable pavers to surround the fountain. These new pavers replaced the old crushed stone that had been there since the fountain was built. The pavers make the area safer and smoother for everyone, including those with disabilities.
Future Plans: Phases II and III
Phase II was supposed to start in the winter of 2009. This part of the project included removing the old fountain table, installing a new drainage system, and adding new landscaping, lighting, and signs. However, this phase was not completed because of a lack of money. As of May 2026, this phase is still incomplete, and the Chicago Park District has not announced a new completion date.
Phase III has not yet been designed and can only begin once Phase II is finished. This final phase will include restoring the Buckingham Fountain itself and its surrounding area. It will also involve building a new equipment room, repairing structural parts, masonry, mechanical, and electrical systems, and restoring bronze elements.
Gallery
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Through the fence, 2009
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Night view, 2014
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Sea serpent, 2014
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Skyline and serpent, 2010
See also
In Spanish: Fuente de Buckingham para niños
