Thirty feet tall and weighing over 15 tons. That’s the Bartholdi Fountain at The Belvedere. It’s a magnificent sight isn’t it?
This isn’t just any fountain. It’s a piece of history. Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi the same man who gave us the Statue of Liberty. It originally debuted at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Imagine the crowds. The gas lamps illuminating its cast iron. Its caryatid figures eleven feet tall.
Congress bought it for $6000. At the suggestion of Frederick Law Olmsted. The landscape architect behind the US Capitol Grounds. It arrived in Washington DC in 1877. It stood at the base of Capitol Hill. It was a popular nighttime attraction thanks to its gas lamps. Later electrified in 1915.
The Botanic Garden’s relocation in 1927 meant a move for the fountain. It was dismantled then reassembled in its current location in 1932. Years of repairs and maintenance followed. From 2008 to 2011 it underwent a complete restoration. Energy-efficient systems and new water treatment technology were installed.
This elegant expression of the Gilded Age. An allegory of light and water. It’s a symbol of a modern city. A testament to enduring beauty. Look closely at the graceful fluid forms. The detail in the classical and renaissance sculptures. It’s truly remarkable. A lasting legacy. A timeless treasure. A source of wonder and delight for years to come. The Bartholdi Fountain at The Belvedere. A must-see.