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- Printable Version
Fountains in Southwest Portland:
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Skidmore Fountain between SW Burnside and Ankeny, 1st and Front is Portlands' oldest piece of public art.
This was the center of Portland when the bronze fountain was placed here in 1888. Stephen Skidmore, a druggist who arrived in Portland by covered wagon, left $5,000 in his will for a fountain for men, horses and dogs. His friends raised additional funds to commission a design by Olin Warner. It is inscribed "Good Citizens Are The Riches Of A City," a quote from C.E. S. Wood. Wood convinced Olin Warner to take the commission for the this fountain. When Warner named a price of $18,000, three of Skidmore's friends quietly made up the difference. For the dedication, brewer Henry Weinhard offered to pipe beer through the fountain, but the chairman of the Fountain Committee declined. For nearly two decades, people drank from tin cups that hung from the lions' heads at the base of the fountain.
This fountain is a gathering spot for visitors to Saturday Market.
In 2005 the Portland Water Bureau provided a grant of $33,000 to restore this fountain to its original beauty. Working in cooperation with the Regional Arts & Culture Council, a conservator coordinated upgrading the plumbing, cleaning and repairing the granite basin, reconfiguring the basin floor to improve drainage, conservation of the bronze sculpture, and caulking all joints and replacing the cement coating on the column base. PortlandWater Bureau Operations and Maintenance crews worked on the plumbing details.
Related site: Skidmore (Old Town) Historic District
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Elk Fountain on SW Main between 3rd and 4th and the Plaza Blocks
David P. Thompson drove sheep to Portland over the Oregon Trail. From 1879-1882 he served as Portland's Mayor. In 1900, Thompson's gift of this bronze elk sculpture was intended to commemorate elk that once grazed nearby. Roland Hinton Perry sculpted the elk. H. G. Wright
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Salmon Street Springs at SW Salmon in Waterfront Park
This fountain celebrates city life. A computer regulates the changing patterns of the water display. At full capacity the fountain recycles 4,924 gallons of water per minute through as many as 137 jets at once. There are 185 jets.
The Portland Development Commission funded the fountain. It was dedicated in 1988. A contest generated the name in 1989. Robert Perron Landscape Architects and Planners designed the fountain. The three cycles of the fountain are called misters, bollards and wedding cake.
In 2004 a Portland Water Bureau project replaced all the old cast iron piping with heavy duty PVC in the main drain vault.
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The Dreamer in Pettygrove Park, SW Third between Market and Harrison
The Portland Development Commission installed Manuel Izquierdo's bronze sculpture and fountain in 1979. The sculpture is made of "yellow metal" or malleable brass. The artist hammered the sculptural forms into rounded shapes.
A 2006 restoration project repaired cracking seams, cleaning the surface, and addressing caulking problems in the reflecting pool.
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Ira Keller's Civic Theatre Forecourt Fountain between SW 3rd and 4th, and Market and Clay
13,000 gallons of water per minute cascade through this fountain. The fountain holds 75,000 gallons of water. Its terraces and platforms suggest the Northwest's abundant waterfalls. Angela Danadjieva designed this fountain for Lawrence Halprin Associates. People have gathered here since its completion in 1971.
Please use caution while enjoying this fountain. Like all streams and waterfalls, slippery surfaces, rapidly moving water, pools of water, and high drop-offs require careful attention. Please stay back from edges due to falling hazard.
The Portland Water Bureau works to make sure that the fountain today is true to the spirit of Lawrence Halprin’s vision.
In the mid - 1990s a major restoration costing nearly ¾ of a million dollars addressed problems related to old age. The Portland Water Bureau:
o Restored loose rock on the surfaces of the block.
o The blocks had shifted and there were some very major leaks. The bureau project restored the blocks to their original configuration and grouted between them.
o Brought the electrical components up to code.
o Updated lighting fixtures.
o Upgraded the chlorination system so it was automated and could keep chlorine levels consistent with what is in swimming pools to protect public health.
In 2005, the Portland Water Bureau’s operating engineers worked on the pumps and motors while the fountain was off for the winter season. Their work reduced electricity needed to keep water moving by 17% last season. That’s good for the environment and city ratepayers.
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Lovejoy Fountain between 3rd and 4th on SW Hall
Halprin and Associates designed this stair-step fountain in 1968 for the Portland Development Commission. It celebrates the waterfalls and landscapes of the Northwest. Asa Lovejoy co-founded Portland with Francis Pettygrove.
Please use caution while enjoying this fountain. Like all streams and waterfalls, slippery surfaces, rapidly moving water, pools of water, and high drop-offs require careful attention. Please stay back from edges due to falling hazard.
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Chimney Fountain - North of SW Lincoln between 3rd and 4th
This small red-brick fountain gives the illusion of water flowing from between the bricks of a chimney.
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Untitled Fountain popularly known as "The Car Wash" at SW 5th and Ankeny
Update August 2007: This fountain is temporarily turned off to accommodate Light Rail construction in the vicinity.
This tubular fountain designed by Carter, Hull, Nishita, McCulley and Baxter was installed in 1977. A wind gauge shuts off its water on gusty days to prevent hazards for motorists.
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Animals in Pools on Yamhill and Morrison between SW 5th and 6th
Update: August 2007 Some of these fountains will be turned off intermittently to accommodate Light Rail construction in the vicinity.
Ten fountains with twenty-five bronze sculptures of Pacific Northwest animals were installed in 1986 for the Local Improvement District for the MAX light rail. Designed by Georgia Gerber.
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Untitled Fountain popularly known as the Kelly Fountain on SW 6th and Pine
August 2007: This fountain is temporarily off due to Light Rail construction in the vicinity which impacts the Portland Water Bureau's ability to have access to the vault that operates the fountain.
Water flows over twenty foot steel shapes in this fountain designed by Lee Kelly, one of Portland's most prolific artists. Installed in 1977, it is popularly known as The Kelly Fountain. The Portland Water Bureau worked in partnership with the Regional Arts and Culture Council to restore this fountain to its original beauty in the spring of 2004.
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Pioneer Courthouse Square Waterfall Fountain on SW Broadway between Yamhill and Morrison
In the late 1970's the City acquired this land for use as a public square. Architect Will Martin designed the square and its waterfall fountain in 1983.
In early 2006 the Portland Water Bureau completed a major restoration of this fountain. The total cost of the work was approximately $122,000 – and the project took care of leaks, repaired places that had corroded over time, restored bronze mask features in the trough part of the fountain, cleaned all granite surfaces and regrouted places that needed it. The project replaced membranes beneath granite surfaces that prevent leaking.
At full capacity the main fountain cycles 900 gallons per minute while the upper trough recycles 300 gallons per minute.
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Rebecca At The Well/Shemanski Fountain on the Park blocks between SW Salmon and Main
This Italianesque trefoil design fountain was a gift to the city from Joseph Shemanski in 1926 to thank the city for its kindness to him. Shemanski was a Polish immigrant who went from being a traveling clock salesman to successful businessman. Carl L. Linde designed the cast stone structure that surrounds the bronze sculpture by Oliver Laurence Barrett. Rebecca offered to draw water for Abraham's servant and many camels -- possibly as much as a half ton of water. By providence, Rebecca's act of kindness and service revealed her as the bride.
The Regional Arts and Culture Council partnered with the Portland Water Bureau to restore this fountain in 2004.
In 2007, the Water Bureau was forced to repair the fountain again when vandals pushed the figure of Rebecca off her base. She suffered extensive damage and repair work cost the city thousands of dollars. While falling, the Rebecca came into contact with one of the drinking fountain bowls, breaking off some of the sandstone casting that encases the bronze bowls. The figurine spent several months in a shop undergoing restoration. On September 20th, 2007 the recast base and statue were re-installed onto the fountain and Rebecca was turned back on for the public to enjoy.
In early 2008, thieves stole the brass nozzles off of the fountain's bowls. The Water Bureau has been forced to shut-down the entire fountain until replacement parts can be acquired. Unfortunately, due to the age of the nozzles, off-the-shelf replacement parts are unavailable. The bureau had to remove another nozzle and have a mold of it recast. The bureau hopes to have the fountain up and running again by early September 2008.
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O'Bryant Square Fountain at SW Park and Stark
Update 7-26-07 This fountain is not operational at this time.
"A Fountain For A Rose," is a gift from Donald Card Sloan, a Prime Minister of the Royal Rosarians. The inscription reads "May you find peace in this garden." Installed in 1973, designed by Danile, Mann, Johnson and Mendenhall. Also funded by the Sloan Foundation, the Portland Rose Society, and grants from the City of Portland and the US Government.
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Legacy Fountain at Waterfront Park
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