Columbus Fountain

Set in the plaza in front of Union Station, this grand marble fountain honors the explorer Christopher Columbus. Designed by Lorado Taft and unveiled in 1912, it features a standing figure of Columbus before the prow of a ship whose figurehead represents Discovery. Flanking allegorical figures depict the Old World and the New, while a globe circled by eagles crowns the shaft behind. Water basins and flagstaffs complete the ceremonial forecourt that greets rail travelers, and like other Columbus monuments it has become a focus of debate.