Grant Park - Buckingham Fountain, Chicago

Most Chicagoans know Buckingham Fountain as "the meeting place" during the summer when going to events in Grant Park (i.e. the Taste, concerts, etc.)

The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain is a spectacular sight during the warmer months in Chicago (the fountain is turned off during the Winter). The fountain produces a major water display every hour on the hour for approximately 20 minutes (from 10am to 11pm). Every minute, 133 jets spray approximately 14,000 gallons of water into the air. The center jet shoots water 150 feet into the air. Beginning at dusk the water display is accompanied by a major light and music performance. There are 820 lights choreographed with the water and music.

The fountain has four bronze sea horses that represent the four states that touch Lake Michigan- Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

Year Built: 1927
Architect: Bennett, Parsons & Frost with Jacques Lambert
Sculptor: Marcel Francois Loyau
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: August 30, 2000

The Buckingham Fountain is the crowning decorative centerpiece of Grant Park. It is framed by the lakefront and Congress Parkway and Columbus Drive.

The fountain has a magnificent plume of water shooting over 60 feet in the air. At night the fountain is bathed in an array of colors.

While touring downtown Chicago, be sure to stop in this park and wander around for a bit. Grant Park is another of Chicago's beautiful public parks located in downtown. The park borders Lakeshore Drive and contains a few interesting sights to see.

The rose gardens, which are open in the summer, and the wildflower area, which contains a field of color, are great places to step away from the sometimes maddening crowds for a bit. The park's centerpiece is Buckingham fountain which erupts in a high spray of water every hour of so. Grant Park also contains its share of statues and other interesting visual displays, including Abraham Lincoln, as well as the stock exchange arch.

Must see list in Chicago:
In the downtown:
1. John Hancock Building and observatory
2. Sears tower and observatory
3. Downtown famous skyline
4. Buchingham fountain day and night
5. Watertower place
6. Art Museum
In the suburbs
1 Northern suburbs
2 FermiLab

One of the most impressive sights in Chicago. The fountain's 1 1/2 gallons (5,7 million liters) of water recirculate through a computer-operated pumping system at a rate of 14,000 gallons (53,000 liters) per minute. Hundreds of spotlights hidden within the fountain are used to create a dazzling show of colored lights. The 20-minute shows, set to music, are held from dusk to 11pm every hour on the hour, from April to October.

Situated in Grant Park, which is near the shores of Lake Michigan, this fountain is clearly the most famous one in the city. It is the one shown in the introduction to the sitcom "Married With Children". The fountain itself is directly inspired from the Latona Fountain found at the Palace of Versailles in France. It is now set in a large circle in the park.

This is one of the prettiest sights to see in Chicago, it's only open in the summer and early fall..at night they have lights and every hour at the top of the hour the fountainhead goes about 4 stories so there is a huge spray..kids sometimes stand in it..its fun..

Buckingham Fountain is one of Chicago's greatest landmarks. But at night, it is lit up with bright colored lights and becomes even more spectacular than what it is during the day.

Every hour on the hour for 20 minutes, the fountain's main jet shoots a stream of water 150 feet into the air for for a major water display, and after sunset, the display is put to lights and music. The last show is at 10 PM. It really is amazing to see.

The Fountain was built in 1927 as a memorial to Clarence Buckingham from his sister Kate, a philanthropist. The sculptures that make up the fountain are very detailed and beautiful. The four sea horses represent the four states that touch Lake Michigan - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Buckingham Fountain is made of Georgia pink marble and pumps over 14,000 thousand gallons of water per minute. The pool is 280 feet in diameter. The fountain is lit up at night with 820 lights. It is controlled by a computer in the pump house and is equipped with a security system.

The Fountain runs from April 1st to November 1st, depending on the weather, from 10 AM - 11 PM daily.

For you TV fans, the introduction to the 80's and 90's show "Married...With Children" starts off with Buckingham Fountain.