A gift frozen in time. That is what we have before us: the Prefontaine Fountain. Completed in 1925, this is Seattle’s oldest fountain.
Prefontaine Fountain graces Prefontaine Place. This small park sits in the Pioneer Square district. Look around. It is near 3rd Avenue and Yesler Way.
The fountain’s story began long before its completion. The land was deeded to the city in 1912. The park and fountain are dedicated to the late Francis X. Prefontaine. He was a Catholic priest. He built the city’s first Catholic church. Father Prefontaine also provided $5,000 for the fountain’s construction.
Born in Montreal in 1838, Msgr. Prefontaine visited mill towns in the Puget Sound. Then he came to Seattle. He built Our Lady of Good Hope at 3rd Avenue South and Washington Street in 1869. He also founded Providence Hospital at 5th and Madison.
Our Lady of Good Hope was demolished in 1905. This made way for Prefontaine Place South. Msgr. Prefontaine died in 1909. He left money for a fountain in a public square. The city received the gift in 1922.
Originally, the area was known as Yesler Triangle. Henry Yesler, an early Seattle entrepreneur, had deeded it to the city for a library. But the library board deemed it too small. In 1912, control shifted to the city for a park.
By 1925, Mayor Brown, the Park Board, and the Yesler Estate agreed. A fountain dedicated to Msgr. Prefontaine should be built. Carl Gould, a renowned architect, was hired to design it.
The Prefontaine Fountain features a circular basin and wall made of concrete. Sculptures of turtles adorn the low basin rim. Notice the blue ceramic tiles lining the fountain basin. They add a touch of color to the space.
Prefontaine Place sits on a sloping triangular piece of land. Jefferson Street, Yesler Way, and 3rd Avenue South border it. Major buildings surround the area. They include the Smith Tower, the Morrison Hotel, the King County Courthouse, and the Frye Hotel.
The park has a forty-foot bowed terrace. It is paved with brick. A concrete railing and benches line the terrace’s uphill side. Concrete braziers top pedestals at the terrace railing’s outer corners.
Centered on the terrace is a circular pool. A monument stands at its center. It reads: Presented by Msgr. F. X. Prefontaine to the City of Seattle, Died March 4, 1909.
Originally, the sculpted tortoises on the fountain’s basin rim were to spout water. Slight changes occurred during a 1967 restoration. Allied Arts and the Municipal Art Commission funded the effort. This included the blue tile mosaic.
The park and fountain were rebuilt during the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel construction. They reopened in 1990. Sadly, the fountain and sidewalk have been fenced off since 2023.
Today, the City of Seattle is considering the future of Prefontaine Place. Plans include restoring the fountain to its original design. Another option involves removing the bowl. Nozzles in the pavement could also preclude standing water.
Prefontaine Fountain stands as a testament to Seattle’s history. It represents the generosity of Father Prefontaine. It also shows the city’s commitment to public spaces. As we leave, remember the legacy of this beautiful fountain.