Beneath our feet lies a story etched in pink Georgia marble a testament to art philanthropy and a city’s relentless pursuit of beauty. We are standing before the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain. It is not just a fountain it is an icon.
Kate Sturges Buckingham donated it. She honored her brother Clarence. Both were avid art collectors. They significantly contributed to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Completed in 1927 the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain quickly became the centerpiece of Grant Park Chicago’s front yard. But its location was once controversial. Daniel Burnham wanted to build the Field Museum here. Aaron Montgomery Ward fought to keep the lakefront view unobstructed. Ward won ensuring the park remained open.
Edward Bennett designed the fountain. He was Burnham’s longtime associate. Marcel Loyau created the sculptures. The fountain’s design was inspired by the Latona Basin at Versailles. However the Buckingham Fountain is twice the size. It recirculates three times more water.
The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain symbolizes Lake Michigan. Its major display uses 15000 gallons of water per minute. The water shoots 150 feet into the air. The lower basin features four sets of Art Deco sea horses. They represent the states bordering Lake Michigan. Loyau studied sea horses in Paris for this. His sculptures won him the Prix National at the 1927 Paris Salon.
Kate Buckingham wanted soft moonlight lighting. She worked with technicians. They tested colors and currents. She created an ethereal mystical aura. The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain contains 820 lights. They are arranged in the bowls troughs and around the sea horses.
The fountain’s operation was initially manual. Two engineers worked twelve-hour shifts. They managed the water and lights. Automation came in 1980. Today the system is monitored on-site.
The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain has a 1.5-million-gallon water capacity. Three pumps power the displays. The central jet creates the 150-foot geyser. There are 133 jets in total. They create various water patterns.
The fountain’s basins vary in size. The bottom pool is 280 feet in diameter. The upper basin stands 25 feet above the lower basin’s water level. An underground pump house contains the original pumps and motors.
The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain stands as a Chicago Landmark. It is a testament to vision collaboration and enduring beauty. Its waters dance its lights shimmer and its story continues to captivate. The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain is more than a fountain. It is a symbol of Chicago itself.