Granite monoliths stand before us. These are the Haupt Fountains. They are a gift to the city, a testament to beauty and vision. We’re at 16th Street and Constitution Avenue. Here, the Haupt Fountains offer more than just a visual treat. They frame history.
The Haupt Fountains are significant landscape features in President’s Park. Enid Annenberg Haupt, a publishing heiress, funded these fountains. She also donated the Enid A. Haupt Garden. This four-acre Victorian garden sits next to the Smithsonian Castle. Haupt’s gift arose from Mary Lasker’s request. Lasker was president of the Society for a More Beautiful Capital. The idea was part of First Lady Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson’s plan. She envisioned The White House framed by water views. This would be when seen from The Washington Monument. Looking the other way, the fountains neatly frame the Washington Monument. Originally, four fountains were in the works for The Ellipse. Only these two Haupt Fountains were built.
Nathaniel Owings designed these 18-foot square fountains. They are made of granite. Stone carver Gordon Newell and sculptor James Hunolt assisted him. Palmer, Campbell and Reese, an engineering firm, completed the engineering work. Curtin and Johnson constructed the fountains in 1968. Each fountain uses a massive slab of granite. It is 18 feet square and almost a foot thick. Each weighs 55 tons. The granite came from Morton, Minnesota. The rock is over 3.5 million years old.
Haupt Fountains deteriorated over time. A restoration plan addressed general soiling and biological growth. Iron staining from old anchors was removed. Mortar in the ceramic pavers was repaired. Calcium deposits, caused by water leaks, were cleaned. Polyethylene weep tubes now prevent future water damage.
Take a moment to appreciate these historic fountains. The Haupt Fountains stand as a beautiful intersection. It’s where art meets history and philanthropy shapes the landscape. So now you know that you have stopped and taken notice of these beautiful and historic fountains.