Buckingham Fountain, Chicago

Buckingham Fountain, Chicago (must see)

Right in the thick of Chicago鈥檚 downtown grid, amid suits and skyscrapers, you鈥檒l find Grant Park showing off its true showstopper: one of the largest fountains in the world! And no, it's not just there to impress tourists. This aquatic giant was a lavish gift from Kate Sturges Buckingham, a 20th-century American art collector and philanthropist, who had some serious cash to splash thanks to her family's grain empire. She dedicated it to her brother, with whom she shared a deep love for art (and apparently, dramatic gestures).

What you get is less 鈥渟prinkler system鈥� and more 鈥渟culptural fever dream.鈥� Imagine a three-tiered marble wedding cake dressed in pink seashells, ringed with gleeful fish spraying water like it鈥檚 going out of style, and four bronze sea horses rearing back in dramatic flair 鈥� each repping one of the states touching Lake Michigan. It all came together in 1927, channeling Versailles vibes, only bigger. Because this is Chicago...

Now, if you want the full Buckingham Fountain experience, show up between May and October. That鈥檚 when the real magic happens 鈥� hourly water shows with lights that shimmer and shift like the fountain鈥檚 throwing its own rave. Stick around long enough, and you'll see the center jet shooting 150 feet into the air like it鈥檚 trying to signal the moon.

Tip break:
While here, don鈥檛 just stare at the spray. Head west across Columbus Drive and give a nod to the quietly dignified Lincoln statue 鈥� seated, reflective, and looking like he鈥檚 contemplating the next big speech. Sculpted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1926, it鈥檚 the introvert to the fountain鈥檚 extrovert. Then swing by Congress Parkway near Michigan Avenue, where The Bowman and the Spearman strike a pose. These towering bronze Indian warriors aren鈥檛 just decorative鈥攖hey're 17 feet of pure stoic intensity.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Buckingham Fountain
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Millennium and Grant Parks Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

Create Your Own Walk in Chicago

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
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Chicago Chinatown Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

Chicago Introduction Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Millennium and Grant Parks Walking Tour

The city of Chicago is renowned for its outdoor green spaces. One such 鈥渇orever free and open鈥� space, is called Grant Park and was established in 1844. In fact, upon foundation, it was called Lake Park, but was renamed in 1901 after the American Civil War General and United States President, Ulysses S. Grant.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

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Set in the heart of Chicago鈥檚 famous eclectic neighborhood, Hyde Park, the campus is worth a visit as it offers a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

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