Tyler Davidson Fountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tyler Davidson Fountain, dedicated in 1871, is a landmark feature of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and a popular symbol of the city itself (along with flying pigs). It sits in Cincinnati's Fountain Square, a hardscape plaza at the corner of Fifth Street and Vine Street, surrounded by shopping, hotels, and restaurants that make it one of the best-known and most-visited spots in Cincinnati.
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[edit] Characteristics
The 43-foot-tall fountain is cast in bronze and sits on a granite base. It features several central human figures that represent the practical uses of water and four outer figures with animals that represent the pleasures of water and originally acted as drinking fountains. Streams of water flow from the outstretched hands of the figure at its top, the nine-foot-tall bronze woman called The Genius of Water. Panels on its lower part depict industrial uses of water.
About 24 tons of bronze and 85 tons of granite make up the fountain, and it is estimated that 500 gallons of water per minute flow through it.
[edit] History
After the death of his brother-in-law and business partner Tyler Davidson, Cincinnati businessman Henry Probasco went to Munich, Germany in search of a suitable memorial to him. Many years before, artist August von Kreling had collaborated with Ferdinand von Miller at the Royal Bronze Foundry of Bavaria to design a fountain to rival the great fountains of Europe but which would glorify mankind rather than fanciful creatures and gods of mythology. When Miller could find no patron to sponsor the fountain, the designs languished until Probasco came to him with an interest in a similar theme. Probasco requested the addition of four figures with animals that would act as drinking fountains, which Miller's sons designed.
The fountain was cast by at the Royal Bronze Foundry of Bavaria and shipped to Cincinnati for assembly. Probasco also provided the site for the fountain, now called Fountain Square. Miller traveled to Cincinnati for the dedication ceremony, which took place on October 6, 1871, where he enjoyed a degree of celebrity in the city for his and Von Kreling's work.
The fountain was fully renovated in 1970 for a celebration of its centennial. The Fountain Square plaza was redesigned for better traffic flow, and the fountain was moved and turned to face west rather than east. Additional repair and refurbishing was done in 1999.
In 2005, as part of Fountain Square's revitalization, the city decided to move the Tyler Davidson Fountain to the center of Fountain Square. The estimated cost is approximately $42m of which the city will pay $4m. During the renovation the fountain will be on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The square is expected to reopen in October of 2006. As of March of 2007, the square is still unfinished.
[edit] Trivia
- The fountain is turned off each winter and turned on again in April for the first home game of the Cincinnati Reds.
- The fountain was featured in the credits of the television series WKRP in Cincinnati.
- Fountain Square is located at Fifth Street and Vine. Google map
- The original miniature model is located in the Cincinnati Art Museum.
