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- Description
- This image is included in Building Oregon: Architecture of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, a digital collection which provides documentation about the architectural heritage of the Pacific Northwest.
- brochure: Portland's Municipal Fountains; A Self-Guided Tour. Prepared by Portland Water Bureau.
- View Date
- 1900/2000
- MODS Note
- Portland’s Municipal A Self- Guided Tour The Portland Water Bureau strives to deliver the highest quality drinking water and service to the Portland community while also being conscientious stewards of the city’s natural, fiscal and structural resources. For more information about the Portland Water Bureau, visit: www. portlandonline. com/ water • 503- 823- 7770 For information about Portland’s public art, please contact the Regional Arts & Culture Council: www. racc. org • 503- 823- 5111 For more information on Portland’s municipal fountains, visit: www. portlandonline. com/ water/ fountains Efficiency Most of Portland’s decorative fountains recirculate water to minimize water use and run- off. The bureau has installed meters to gauge water use and electrical consumption. Health and Safety The health and safety of Portland’s fountains, especially its interactive fountains, is a top priority for the Portland Water Bureau. The bureau cleans fountains regularly, monitors operations and chlorinates the interactive fountains to the level of a swimming pool. P o r t l and’ s M u n i c i pa l F o u n ta i n s The Portland Water Bureau has proudly maintained Portland’s municipal decorative fountains since 1988. The Water Bureau maintains beautiful fountains throughout the Portland area and the largest concentration of them lies within the downtown area. Take this opportunity to discover and explore downtown Portland and her treasure chest of unique artwork — Portland’s fountains. Unlock their secrets and ponder their history as you wind your way through this bustling area of the city on a 2.6- mile, self- guided tour. Maintenance Maintaining these fountains is no small feat. The Portland Water Bureau employs one full- time “ Fountain Man” who spends his days ensuring that Portland’s fountains are in working order, safe for public enjoyment and running efficiently. The bureau turns the fountains off for the cold weather months to prevent water from blowing or freezing on surfaces. This “ down time” also provides an opportunity for maintenance and repair projects. Portland’s Interactive Fountains: • Salmon Street Springs Fountain Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park • McCoy Fountain N. Trenton Street & Newman Avenue • Holladay Park Fountain NE 11th Avenue & Multnomah Street • Jamison Square Fountain 810 NW 11th Avenue Fountain enthusiasts should be aware that the water in these fountains is not suitable for drinking. Also, please use caution when walking near pools of water or on slippery surfaces. Aesthetics The Portland Water Bureau works with the Regional Arts & Culture Council to maintain aesthetics at each fountain. Sculptures undergo restoration when needed, in order to present the art as originally intended. For more information on Portland’s municipal fountains visit www. portlandonline. com/ water/ fountains Other fountains maintained by the Portland Water Bureau: • A Fountain for a Rose ( O’ Bryant Square Fountain) SW Park Avenue & Washington Street • Holladay Park Fountain NE 11th Avenue & Multnomah Street • The Rose Petal SE 106th Avenue & Stark Street • McCoy Fountain N. Trenton Street & Newman Avenue The City of Portland will make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. Please notify us no less than five ( 5) business days prior to the event by phone at 503- 823- 7404, by the city’s TTY at 503- 823- 6868, or by the Oregon Relay Service at 1- 800- 735- 2900. Printed on recycled paper 03/ 2009 Portland Water Bureau 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Room 600 Portland, OR 97204- 1926 Phone: 503- 823- 7404 Customer Service: 503- 823- 7770 Web site: portlandonline. com/ water Randy Leonard, Commissioner David G. Shaff, Administrator Fountains Ira Keller Forecourt Fountain Dreamer Fountain Salmon Street Springs Fountain Shemanski Fountain or “ Rebecca at the Well” Lovejoy Fountain Animals in Pools Fountains Jamison Square Fountain The Jamison Square Fountain is the centerpiece of Northwest Portland’s Jamison Square. Named in honor of William Jamison, an early advocate and catalyst for the development of the Pearl District, the fountain’s wading pool offers cooling relief on hot summer days. Water cascades from stone joints into shallow pools where it ebbs and flows like the tide. Washington Stark Oak Pine Alder Morrison Yamhill Taylor Salmon Main Madison Jefferson Columbia Mill Harrison College Hall 9th Park Broadway 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st SW Naito Parkway Ash Clay 10th 11th Montgomery Market Jackson Ankeny Lincoln 12th Burnside Walk up the stairs to reach Burnside Burnside Bridge Morrison Bridge Hawthorne Bridge Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park Willamette River 8 7 6 5 4 Streetcar or MAX stop Walking Tour Streetcar or MAX Line 12 10 1 2 2 3 11 9 LOOK BUT DON’T DRINK The water in the decorative fountains is not for drinking. Please use designated crosswalks when possible. Total Tour Length: 2.6 miles Total Tour Time: 2 hours Por t l and Fou n ta i n s Wa l k i n g To u r 1. Pioneer Courthouse Square Fountain SW Broadway Avenue & Yamhill Street 1983 • Will Martin In 1849, Elijah Hill bought this block of downtown Portland for $ 24 and a pair of boots. The site of Portland’s first schoolhouse, Pioneer Courthouse Square is now the most visited attraction in Portland. The fountain, which features imported tile, is a major part of Portland’s “ living room.” Look for designer Will Martin’s bronze hat at the top of the fountain. 2. Animals in Pools Fountains SW Yamhill & Morrison streets between 5th & 6th avenues 1986 • Georgia Gerber • bronze, concrete Eleven “ pools” feature sculptures of animals native to Oregon. Sea lions, beavers, bears, river otters, ducks and deer line Morrison and Yamhill streets. Sculptor Georgia Gerber wanted to offer “ a sense of the wild in the midst of a busy city.” In 1991, one of the beloved bear cubs was stolen, but public outcry led to an anonymous tip that the cub was hiding in the bushes in neighboring Washington County. 3. Shemanski Fountain ( Rebecca at the Well) Park Blocks between SW Salmon & Main streets 1926 • Oliver Barrett ( stone) and Carl Linde ( bronze) Joseph Shemanski, the fountain’s namesake, was a Polish immigrant who began his career selling clocks on an installment plan; he eventually owned 34 Pacific Coast stores of the Eastern Outfitting Company. Shemanski commissioned this fountain as a gesture of appreciation for the people of Portland who had so warmly welcomed him. His compassion for animals inspired the three pet- level drinking fountains. There are also three human- level fountains. Two years after the initial fountain was erected, Shemanski commissioned the sculpture of Rebecca at the Well, which reflects the biblical tale of Abraham’s discovery of a bride for Isaac when he saw Rebecca drawing water for camels. Abraham chose Rebecca for Issac because of her kindness and service. 4. Chimney Fountain North of SW Lincoln Street between 3rd & 4th avenues 1968 • brick The southernmost of downtown fountains, this small structure was erected as part of the South Auditorium Project, the Portland Development Commission’s first urban renewal project. The Chimney Fountain gives the illusion that water is flowing between the bricks, as smoke might seep through a chimney. 5. Lovejoy Fountain SW 3rd Avenue, between Lincoln & Harrison streets 1968 • Lawrence Halprin • concrete, brick In an 1843 contest with Francis Pettygrove, Asa Lovejoy, this fountain’s namesake, lost two out of three coin tosses and thus the right to name our city after his hometown of Boston. Lovejoy and Pettygrove flipped the coin a second time to determine which of two neighboring parks would be named Lovejoy and which would be named Pettygrove. This beautiful fountain was built in Lovejoy’s park and took on his name. With conservation in mind, the Portland Water Bureau fitted the Lovejoy Fountain with a more efficient water pump in 2008. Before installation of the new pump, the fountain took 12 hours to fill. 6. Dreamer Fountain SW 3rd Avenue between Market & Harrison streets 1979 ��� Manuel Izquierdo • Muntz bronze Located in Pettygrove Park, Manuel Izquierdo’s design of a reclining woman is made from surplus navy bronze that he bought and cleaned. Izquierdo said, “ The Dreamer speaks of hope, of beauty and serenity, of love, and for a better life in our midst.” Izquierdo filled the sculpture with foam so that falling rain would make a gentle sound like a kettledrum instead of ringing hollow. Izquierdo is professor emeritus at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. 7. Ira Keller Forecourt Fountain SW 3rd & 4th avenues between Market & Clay streets 1971 • Angela Danadjieva Designed to mimic the majestic waterfalls of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains, the Ira Keller Fountain is truly one of Portland’s best known landmarks. Formerly named, simply, Forecourt Fountain, it was renamed in 1978 in honor of the first chairman of the Portland Development Commission, Ira Keller, who had a major influence on the rehabilitation of the area. Residents and visitors alike flock to this series of waterfalls and pools which occupy nearly a full acre in downtown Portland’s busiest business district. New York Times critic Ada Louise Huxtable declared this “ one of the most important urban spaces since the Renaissance.” 8. Elk Fountain SW Main between 3rd & 4th avenues 1900 • Roland Perry ( bronze) and H. G. Wright ( stone) Inspired by the Skidmore Fountain, former mayor David Thompson, president of the Oregon Humane Society, donated the money for this fountain as a trough for horses and dogs, and as a reminder of the elk that once lived in the West Hills and used the neighborhood as a feeding ground. Shortly after the statue was erected, a local artist offered to wire the antlers with electric light bulbs for $ 30. The offer was declined. 9. Salmon Street Springs Fountain SW Salmon Street at Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park 1978 • Robert Perron • concrete The Salmon Street Springs Fountain is one of Portland’s most iconic fountains, majestically spouting water in an array of designs and speeds. A computer changes the pattern of the water display every 20 minutes. At full capacity the fountain recycles 4,924 gallons of water per minute through as many as 137 jets at one time. Taking its name from the winner of a city- wide naming contest, the fountain has become one of Portland’s most popular summer hangouts. A large gathering at this fountain’s 20- Year Anniversary Celebration in spring 2008, proved that Salmon Street Springs is more popular than ever. Citizens turned out en masse to celebrate its presence, despite rainy conditions and cool temperatures. 10. Skidmore Fountain SW 1st Avenue between W. Burnside & Ankeny streets 1888 • Olin Warner • bronze, granite This fountain, Portland’s oldest commissioned public art, stands at what was once the city center. Druggist Stephen Skidmore left $ 5,000 in his will so that “ horses, men, and dogs” could have a cold drink. The fountain was sculpted by Olin Warner who modeled the face of his wife on one of the two caryatids. New York critics lamented that the sculpture was in Portland and that it looked down “ upon buggies and buck- boards, and shirt- sleeves and slouch hats in Oregon instead of decorating the Central Park.” Skidmore Fountain is inscribed with the quote, “ Good citizens are the riches of a city,” a line from the dedicatory speech by C. E. S. Wood, an attorney and member of the Fountain Committee. 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 water from tin cups that hung from the lion’s heads on the fountain. 12. Lee Kelly’s Fountain SW 6th Avenue & Pine Street 1977 • Lee Kelly • stainless steel Oregon artist Lee Kelly won an international competition to design this sculpture. Kelly has designed several other sculptures in Portland and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In this work, water flows over several 20- foot- tall steel structures. In conjunction with the Regional Arts & Culture Council, the Water Bureau helped to restore Kelly’s fountain in 2004. The fountain had become run- down over the years. Opt i o n a l Tour E x t e n s i o n : 13. Jamison Square Fountain 810 NW 11th Avenue ( Jamison Square) • 2002 If you’re feeling extra energetic, head over to Jamison Square Fountain. Just across West Burnside and into the Pearl District, Jamison has quickly become one of the city’s most popular hot- weather hot spots. Poised as the centerpiece of Jamison Square, the fountain’s wading pool offers cool relief to kids, dogs and adults all summer long. It was named in honor of William Jamison, an early advocate of Pearl District development. Somewhat like Oregon’s coast, water cascades into shallow pools where it ebbs and flows like the tide. 11. Car Wash Fountain SW 5th Avenue & Ankeny Street 1977 • Carter, Hull, Nishita, McCulley & Baxter • steel This uniquely shaped fountain never washed cars, but the name seems appropriate given its similarity to a car wash. As a precaution for passing pedestrians, a wind gauge shuts off the pumps if the wind speed exceeds 2 miles per hour. For more information on Portland’s municipal fountains visit: www. portlandonline. com/ water/ fountains
- Subject
- Work Type
- Location
- Identifier
- OR_Multnomah_Portland_Fountains.pdf
- Provenance
- University of Oregon Libraries
- Institution
- Submission Date
- 05/04/2015
- Modified
- 07/29/2022
- Collections
- Building Oregon (open)
APA
Building Oregon, University of Oregon. (25 Apr 2024). Fountains (Portland, Oregon) Retrieved from https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rm72n
MLA
Building Oregon, University of Oregon. "Fountains (Portland, Oregon)" Oregon Digital. 25 Apr 2024. https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rm72n
Chicago
Building Oregon, University of Oregon. "Fountains (Portland, Oregon)" Oregon Digital. Accessed 2024-04-25. https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rm72n
Wiki
{{cite web | url= https://oregondigital.org/concern/documents/df67rm72n | title= Fountains (Portland, Oregon) |author= |accessdate= 2024-04-25 |publisher= }}
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