Buckingham Fountain
May 9, 2018 16:39:33 #
On May 6 the Chicago Park District held their fourth Switch On Summer to celebrate the official season-changing signal - turning on Buckingham Fountain. I visited the next evening on the 7th and was puzzled, along with several others, as to why the hourly central jet was not operating. Nor was the evening light and music presentation. But otherwise, the evening and light were wonderful.
Buckingham Fountain by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/831/41103132095_d48faaa7c8_h.jpg
Buckingham Fountain is a Chicago landmark in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world.
Buckingham Fountain
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/906/28131075068_5016e0a936_h.jpg
The fountain was donated to the city by Kate 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. Originally from Zanesville, Ohio, the Buckingham family made its fortune in grain elevators, real estate and steel. Kate (1858 – 1937) and her brother Clarence Buckingham (1854 – 1913) were both avid art collectors and benefactors who donated valuable prints, paintings, sculptures, and objects to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Buckingham Fountain
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/28131061908_cd06efa880_h.jpg
The Willis Tower, built as and still commonly referred to as the Sears Tower, is a 110-story skyscraper in Chicago. When constructed in 1973, it was the tallest in the world. It remains in the top 10, now at #8.
Willis Tower
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/971/41103146825_aec4c958a5_b.jpg
Built in a Rocky rococo wedding cake style and inspired by the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles, it is meant to allegorically represent Lake Michigan. It operates from April to October, with regular water shows and evening color-light shows.
Buckingham Fountain
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/41103155545_5e1b70d904_h.jpg
These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
Buckingham Fountain by Paul Sager, on Flickr
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/831/41103132095_d48faaa7c8_h.jpg
Buckingham Fountain is a Chicago landmark in the center of Grant Park. Dedicated in 1927, it is one of the largest fountains in the world.
Buckingham Fountain
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/906/28131075068_5016e0a936_h.jpg
The fountain was donated to the city by Kate 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. Originally from Zanesville, Ohio, the Buckingham family made its fortune in grain elevators, real estate and steel. Kate (1858 – 1937) and her brother Clarence Buckingham (1854 – 1913) were both avid art collectors and benefactors who donated valuable prints, paintings, sculptures, and objects to the Art Institute of Chicago.
Buckingham Fountain
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/28131061908_cd06efa880_h.jpg
The Willis Tower, built as and still commonly referred to as the Sears Tower, is a 110-story skyscraper in Chicago. When constructed in 1973, it was the tallest in the world. It remains in the top 10, now at #8.
Willis Tower
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/971/41103146825_aec4c958a5_b.jpg
Built in a Rocky rococo wedding cake style and inspired by the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles, it is meant to allegorically represent Lake Michigan. It operates from April to October, with regular water shows and evening color-light shows.
Buckingham Fountain
http://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/41103155545_5e1b70d904_h.jpg
These images are sized to fill your wide-screen display. Try using <F11> to maximize your browser window for the full effect. If the images overshoot your display, such as a laptop, just click on the image or the URL link and they'll resize to your screen from the host Flickr site. You can click a bit further into the image details on the Flickr page, if desired. EXIF data is available from the host Flickr pages as well. On the Flickr site, use your <L>key for Large and the <F11> for the full-screen.
May 9, 2018 16:48:22 #
May 9, 2018 16:52:11 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
On May 6 the Chicago Park District held their four... (show quote)
I was raised in suburban Chicagoland in the 1950's. I still remember our family driving in on hot evenings and seeing light + plus music shows at the fountain.
May 9, 2018 17:06:37 #
May 9, 2018 17:15:04 #
rehess wrote:
I was raised in suburban Chicagoland in the 1950's. I still remember our family driving in on hot evenings and seeing light + plus music shows at the fountain.
Glad to bring back the memories, rehess. I drove by the fountain twice a day while commuting to the suburbs for 3-years and was reminded I should come back with camera more often.
May 9, 2018 17:15:25 #
May 9, 2018 17:15:50 #
nimbushopper wrote:
Very well done!
Thank you nimbushopper, glad you enjoyed!
May 10, 2018 07:45:11 #
May 10, 2018 09:46:53 #
May 10, 2018 12:52:36 #
Thank you for the pictures. They bring back memories of trips on the el/subway to visit downtown. Last time I saw the fountain show was in the 70’s when I was in town for a convention.👍
May 10, 2018 12:54:42 #
May 10, 2018 22:03:01 #
May 10, 2018 22:40:17 #
May 11, 2018 08:38:10 #
EdR wrote:
Thank you for the pictures. They bring back memories of trips on the el/subway to visit downtown. Last time I saw the fountain show was in the 70’s when I was in town for a convention.👍
Thank you EdR! Although the fountain is now remotely operated via computers and automation, I think you'll find the plaza area is relatively unchanged from your last visit. The skyline too as some new entries, but much of the horizon to the west is the same. Come back sometime for a visit.
May 11, 2018 08:39:53 #
Thank you Marty (fourg1b2006), Jim (jdub82), James, aaciolkowski, Steve, glad you enjoyed!
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