Editing Buckingham Fountain

{{Use American English|date = November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = November 2019}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name          = Buckingham Fountain
| partof        = [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]
| nrhp_type     = cp
| nocat         = yes
| image         = Buckingham Fountain Wikivoyage.jpg
|built={{start date and age|1927}}
| caption       = Buckingham Fountain in [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]
| location      = [[Chicago]]
| locmapin      = United States Chicago Central#Illinois#USA
| coordinates   = {{coord|41.875792|-87.618944|region:US-IL_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| area          = [[Chicago Loop|Downtown Chicago]]
| architect     = 
[[Edward H. Bennett |Bennett, Edward H.]];
[[Jacques H. Lambert |Lambert, Jacques H.]];
[[Marcel Francois Loyau |Loyau, Marcel Francois]]
| architecture  = [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux Arts]], Art  Decomo
| added         = July 21, 1993
| partof_refnum = 92001075
}}
'''Buckingham Fountain''' is a [[Chicago Landmark]] in the center of [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]], between [[Queen's Landing]] and the end of [[Ida B. Wells Drive]].  Dedicated in 1927 and donated to the city by philanthropist [[Kate Sturges Buckingham|Kate S. Buckingham]], it is one of the largest fountains in the world.  Built in a [[rococo]] wedding cake style and inspired by the [[Latona Fountain]] at the [[Palace of Versailles]], its design allegorically represents nearby [[Lake Michigan]].  The fountain operates generally from mid-April to mid-October, with regular water-jet displays and evening colored-light shows.  During the winter, the fountain is decorated with festival lights.

==History==
[[File:Buckingham Fountain in Chicago at night.jpg|thumb|left|Buckingham Fountain]]
The [[fountain]] area has been called Chicago's front door, since it is located in the center of [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]], the city's front yard near the intersection of Columbus Drive and Ida B. Wells Drive.  The fountain itself represents [[Lake Michigan]], with four sets of sea horses (two per set) symbolizing the four states—[[Illinois]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Michigan]] and [[Indiana]]—that border the lake. The fountain was designed by [[Beaux-Arts architecture|beaux arts]] architect [[Edward H. Bennett]]. The statues were created by the French sculptor [[Marcel F. Loyau]]. The design of the fountain was inspired by the ''Bassin de Latone'' and modeled after [[Latona Fountain]] at [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]].

The fountain was donated to the city by [[Kate Sturges Buckingham]] in memory of her brother, Clarence Buckingham, and was constructed at a cost of $750,000. The fountain's official name is the ''Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain''. Kate Buckingham also established the Buckingham Fountain [[Endowment fund|Endowment Fund]] with an initial investment of $300,000 to pay for maintenance.<ref name="cpd">{{cite web| title=Buckingham Fountain| publisher=Chicago Park District| url=http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain/| access-date=2014-07-16}}</ref> Buckingham Fountain was dedicated on August 26, 1927.

In August 2016, in a partnership with the City of Chicago, the Chicago Parks District and Everywhere Wireless, the Buckingham Fountain viewing area joined many [[Chicago beaches]] and the [[Museum Campus]] in providing free [[Wi-Fi]] to visitors.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2015/august/mayor-emanuel--chicago-park-district-announce-expansion-of-free-.html| title=Mayor Emanuel, Chicago Park District Announce Expansion Of Free Wi-Fi At Chicago Beaches| date=August 13, 2015| publisher=City of Chicago| access-date=September 22, 2017}}</ref>

==Operation==
[[File:Buckingham Fountain Oct 2022.jpg|thumb|The fountain while turned off during the fall.]]
Many tourists and Chicagoans visit the fountain each year. The fountain operates from 8:00&nbsp;a.m. to 11:00&nbsp;p.m. daily, typically from early May through mid-October, depending on weather. Water shows occur every hour on-the-hour and last 20 minutes.  During shows, the center jet shoots up vertically to {{convert|150|ft|m}}, and after dusk shows are choreographed with lights and music.  The last show begins at 10:00&nbsp;p.m. nightly.<ref name="cpd" />

The fountain is constructed of Georgia pink marble and contains {{convert|1.5|e6U.S.gal|L}} of water. During a display, more than {{convert|14000|U.S.gal/min}} are pushed through its 193 jets.  The bottom pool of the fountain is {{convert|280|ft|abbr=on}} in diameter, the lower basin is {{convert|103|ft|abbr=on}}, the middle basin is {{convert|60|ft|abbr=on}} and the upper basin is {{convert|24|ft|abbr=on}}. The lip of the upper basin is {{convert|25|ft|abbr=on}} above the water in the lower basin.

The fountain's pumps are controlled by a [[Honeywell]] computer which was previously located in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], until the 1994 renovation when it was moved to the pump house of the fountain.  The fountain's security system is monitored from Arlington Heights (a Chicago suburb).<ref name="cpd"/>

==Renovations==
[[File:Buckingham Fountain Christmas lights.jpg|thumb|Fountain in winter]]
In 1994, the fountain received a $2.8 million restoration to its three smallest basins which developed leaks due to Chicago's harsh winters.<ref name="Ahmed">{{cite news| title=Buckingham Fountain's $25 million renovation to begin after Labor Day| first=Noreen S.| last=Ahmed-Ullah| url=http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2008/07/buckingham-foun.html| newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]| date=16 July 2008| access-date=2011-06-08| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812030622/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2008/07/buckingham-foun.html| archive-date=12 August 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The latest renovation project on Buckingham Fountain began in September 2008. This three-phase project modernized aging internal systems in the fountain and restored deteriorated features.  Funding was a combination from the Buckingham endowment, city and park district funds and a grant from the [[Lollapalooza]] music festival which is held annually near the fountain.<ref name="Ahmed"/>

'''Phase I''' was dedicated April 3, 2009.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.detail/object_id/371e5b32-1481-493d-8a15-0dd2a0a52dce.cfm| title=Mayor Daley Celebrates Season Opening of Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain| publisher=Chicago Park District| date=3 April 2009| access-date=2009-05-07| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20110614143610/http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.detail/object_id/371e5b32-1481-493d-8a15-0dd2a0a52dce.cfm| archive-date=14 June 2011}}</ref> This phase included permeable pavers to surround the fountain. This replaced the crushed stone that was used since the fountain was constructed.  The pavers make a safer and smoother surface and complies with the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]].

'''Phase II''' began in the winter of 2009.<ref>{{cite press release| title=Special Buckingham Fountain Friday Tours Return This Summer| url=http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.detail/object_id/54ae2a95-d260-4342-aebb-3a12d9dde1fb.cfm| publisher=Chicago Park District| date=May 2, 2011| access-date=2011-10-03| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20090822160408/http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/news.detail/object_id/54ae2a95-d260-4342-aebb-3a12d9dde1fb.cfm| archive-date=22 August 2009}}</ref> This phase included the demolition of the fountain table, installation of extensive underdrainage system, new landscaping, site lighting, signs, site furnishings, sewer system, selective demolition within or adjacent to the fountain's outer basin, repairs of some existing cast-in-place concrete elements and installation of new cast-in-place elements.  Work was not completed due to lack of funds and the Chicago Park District has not announced when it expects to finish this phase.<ref name="Jeffers">{{cite news| title=Buckingham Fountain project waits for funding| author=Glenn Jeffers| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/05/26/buckingham-fountain-project-waits-for-funding/| date=26 May 2010| newspaper=Chicago Tribune| access-date=2011-06-09}}</ref>

'''Phase III''' updates have not been scheduled until Phase II projects are completed. This phase will include the restoration of Buckingham Fountain and fountain table, the construction of a new equipment room with selective demolition, structural construction and repair, masonry restoration and repair, mechanical and electrical work, bronze restoration and repair and installation of site improvements and amenities.

== In popular culture ==
[[File:Buckinghamfountain3g05158u.jpg|thumb|Buckingham Fountain on a 1939 [[Works Progress Administration]] poster]]

===Entertainment===
Buckingham Fountain was featured in the title sequences of TV shows ''[[Married... with Children]]'' and ''[[Crime Story (American TV series)|Crime Story]]''.<ref name="d360" /> 

The fountain was the starting point for the television show ''[[The Amazing Race 6]]'' in 2004 and was featured in a task 13 years later on ''[[The Amazing Race 29]]''.<ref name="d360" /><ref>{{cite news| url=https://ew.com/recap/the-amazing-race-season-29-finale/| title=The Amazing Race finale recap: 'We're Going to Victory Lane'| magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]| last=Ray| first=Lincee| date=June 1, 2007| access-date=December 31, 2019| archive-date=December 27, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227014031/https://ew.com/recap/the-amazing-race-season-29-finale/| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/ct-the-amazing-race-filming-in-chicago-20160703-story.html| title='The Amazing Race' films Season 29 in Chicago| newspaper=Capital Gazette| location=Annapolis, Md.| first=Tracy| last=Swartz| date=July 3, 2016| access-date=December 31, 2019| archive-date=December 31, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231194312/https://www.capitalgazette.com/ct-the-amazing-race-filming-in-chicago-20160703-story.html| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Buckingham Fountain features in the 1949 [[film noir]] film [[Undertow (1949 film)|Undertow]], as the protagonist's meeting place. 

===Confusion with Route 66===
Buckingham Fountain is often incorrectly identified as the eastern terminus of historic [[U.S. Route 66]] (the road west to Southern California), but, although near, it was not the end point of that historic route. The original eastern terminus was nearby at the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and [[Michigan Avenue (Chicago)|Michigan Avenue]] in downtown [[Chicago]]. In a later alignment, the terminus was moved east several blocks through [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]] to the intersection with [[Lake Shore Drive]] after the latter was designated as [[U.S. Route 41]]. It remained there until the eastern terminus of Interstate 55 was completed at Lake Shore Drive, and then that also became the eastern terminus of Route 66 until I-55 completely replaced the route in Illinois and U.S. 66 was decommissioned (in 1985).<ref name="d360">{{cite web| title=Buckingham Fountain| url=http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/illinois/buckingham-fountain.php| publisher=Destination 360.com| access-date=2008-09-19| archive-date=July 21, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721213623/http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/illinois/chicago/buckingham-fountain| url-status=dead}}</ref>  Nevertheless, many people still associate Buckingham Fountain with the start of Route 66, even though it had not been built yet when the route opened on November 11, 1926 — whereas the [[Fountain of the Great Lakes]] in the South Garden of the [[Art Institute of Chicago]], which has been near the intersection of Jackson and Michigan since 1913, actually preceded Route 66 by 13 years and Buckingham Fountain by 14 years.  Because Jackson is now a one way street going ''east'', the historic commemorative signs for Route 66 now show "End" at Jackson near Michigan, but "Begin" is moved one block north to Adams Street (in front of the Art Institute), which is a one-way going ''west''.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Buckingham Fountain through the Fence.jpg|Through the fence, 2009
File:Buckingham Fountain Grant Park Chicago.jpg|Night view, 2014
File:Chicago - Buckingham Fountain 3.jpg|Sea serpent, 2014
File:Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, USA.jpg|Skyline and serpent, 2010
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[History of fountains in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/LandmarksWeb/landmarkDetail.do?lanID=1257 Chicago Landmarks: Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain and Garden]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain/ Chicago Park District: Buckingham Fountain]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081025232440/http://www.restorethefountain.com/ Restore Buckingham Fountain]

{{Grant Park}}
{{Chicago Landmark memorials and monuments}}

[[Category:1927 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Animal sculptures in Illinois]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1927]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Chicago]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Chicago]]
[[Category:Chicago Landmarks]]
[[Category:Fountains in Illinois]]
[[Category:Seahorses]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Illinois]]
[[Category:Sculptures of fish in the United States]]
[[Category:Statues in Chicago]]
[[Category:Zoomorphic fountains]]