Buckingham Fountain is called the "entrance gate" of Chicago, located in Grant Park. For many years, it has been included in the list of the most popular attractions in Illinois. The fountain is usually open daily from mid-April to mid-October from 8.00 to 23.00. Spectacular light shows are launched here at night.
History of creation
This is a gift to Chicago from the famous art collector Kate Buckingham in memory of her brother Clarence. The project was designed by the city's chief architect, Edward Bennett. It is based on the Latona Fountain in Paris. The sculptures for the American landmark were created by French sculptor Marcel F. Lau.
The Buckingham Fountain began operating in 1927, and construction work cost $750,000. The largest part of the sum was spent on pink marble, shipping the material from Georgia. Additionally, Kate Buckingham has registered a charitable foundation with $300,000 as seed capital. The funds were used to maintain the fountain's operation and appearance. There is a tradition to decorate Buckingham Fountain with lights in winter, creating a festive mood for residents and visitors of Chicago. The facility was closed several times for repairs and restoration, but now it is working.
Short description
The full name of the attraction is the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain. The main pool is associated with Lake Michigan. 4 groups of seahorses represent the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, which surround the reservoir. The diameter of the pool is 84 meters, the number of jets reaches 134, of which 14,000 gallons of water are discharged every minute. The central structure of the Buckingham Fountain rises from a multi-level pool, and it resembles a newlyweds' cake at a wedding celebration.
Kate Buckingham's gift was made of Rococo pink marble. At night, various light shows lasting about 20 minutes are launched, which use more than 800 lamps. The last performance starts at 10 p.m. Images of the fountain are used on postcards and photographs. Films and TV shows are also shot against his background. In particular, Buckingham Fountain is shown in the screensavers of the TV show "Married... with children", on the basis of which the TV series "Happy Together" was filmed in Russia.
How to get
The Chicago Entrance Gate can be reached by CTA buses on line No146, 147. If you travel by subway, follow the green, orange, brown, pink, purple lines to the Adams/Wabash or Madison/Wabash station. If you go on the red line, you need to get off at Monroe station. You can rent a car in the city or call a taxi to Buckingham Fountain.
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