Bartholdi Fountain

The Fountain of Light and Water was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, PA. Bartholdi, the namesake of Bartholdi Park, is best known for designing the Statue of Liberty, also called Liberty Enlightening the World, installed on Liberty Island in New York, NY. The U.S. Congress purchased the cast-iron fountain in 1877 and placed it with the original U.S. Botanic Garden where the Capitol Reflecting Pool is located today. It was moved to its present site in 1932. The original gas lamps were converted to electricity in 1881, making the fountain a major attraction. Its design features turtle-like aquatic beasts and large shells around the base, three sea nymphs and fish on the pedestal, and three youthful Tritons holding seaweed just under the top crown. The fountain stands 30 feet tall and weighs more than 15 tons.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States