Buckingham Fountain

Buckingham Fountain is a monumental public fountain at the center of Grant Park in downtown Chicago, facing Lake Michigan. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world and has served for nearly a century as a symbol of the city and the ceremonial centerpiece of its lakefront park.

Its design was the work of architect Edward Bennett, who conceived it as part of the grand Beaux-Arts plan for Chicago's parks, drawing inspiration from the Latona Fountain at the palace of Versailles but building it at roughly twice the scale. Constructed of pink Georgia marble in a tiered wedding-cake form, it is decorated with four pairs of bronze sea horses that represent the four states bordering Lake Michigan, and it symbolizes the lake itself.

In operation, the fountain is spectacular. During its season it runs on a cycle in which the central jet shoots water some 150 feet into the air for a few dramatic minutes each hour, and after dark the display is accompanied by a choreographed show of colored lights and music. It was funded and given to the city by Kate Buckingham as a memorial to her brother.

For visitors, the fountain is free and open, set within Grant Park's formal gardens with the downtown skyline rising behind it to the west and the lake stretching east. It sits within a short walk of Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and the Museum Campus, forming a natural circuit of lakefront sights. The grounds are flat and fully accessible, reached easily on foot or by transit. The fountain typically operates from spring into autumn, and the evening light shows are the highlight of a summer visit.