The Fountains of Kansas City

Perhaps one of the reasons is that Kansas City owes its stature to water - it sits at the junction between the Missouri River and the Kansas River, and as a result was a trading and departure point for several of the great trading routes - the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails.

Fountains of Life

Perhaps as well it is a fortuitous coincidence - a number of underground springs run underneath the centre of Kansas City, and in the early 1800s, the Humane Society of Kansas started to build fountains on top of these springs, taking advantage of the natural water pressure to provide fresh, clean drinking water for people and animals to quench their thirsts.

While these fountains were functional and provided an important public amenity, the fountains of Kansas City today are more decorative, and came a little later in the city's development.

The Beautiful City

George Kessler had emigrated from Germany to America with his mother, as a child. He went on to become a leading city planner, and it was his plans for Kansas City's boulevard system, created in the 1890s, that are said to have spurred further interest in fountains amongst the people of Kansas City.

In the years that followed, a number of notable fountains were built as part of new developments in the city, and it became customary to include a fountain in the design of any major new commercial development - a tradition that continues today.

We've selected some of the most noteworthy Kansas City fountains for a closer look, and to show just why Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains.

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J. C. Nichols - Country Club Plaza

J. C. Nichols was a prominent Kansas City developer in the 1920s, and was responsible for many large buildings of the time, perhaps most notably the Country Club Plaza development, which was strongly influenced by European design, particularly that of Seville, Spain.

The Country Club Plaza is a large (55 acre) shopping and residential area in Kansas City, and was the first shopping center to be designed to include integrated parking facilities. Rather than the sprawling and ugly parking lots common with many of today's developments, the Country Club Plaza included underground and rooftop parking, making for a pedestrian-friendly and attractive shopping environment.

Nichols used water fountains extensively in the planning of the plaza, and a walk around the area includes fountains depicting Bacchus, Neptune and Mermaids, as well as several others.

J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain

J.C. Nichols played a significant role in the development of modern Kansas City, in particular through the creation of the Country Club Plaza, and this contribution is marked with the J. C. Nichols Memorial fountain.

This large fountain contains four figures on horseback, each representing a major river of the world - the Mississippi River, the Volga, the Seine and the Rhine. Water rises up to 30 feet from the centre of the fountain, and the Memorial Fountain is one of the most recognized symbols of Kansas City.

Crown Center Fountains

The Crown Center complex is a combined office, retail and entertainment complex that includes the headquarters of the Hallmark Cards company. Its fountains provide an astonishing and exciting display for visitors and residents alike, and through the use of heated pipe work are able to stay open throughout the year!

The fountain itself is remarkable - it has no basin and no visible pipe work or nozzles. It occupies an area of around 2000 square feet, and beneath the cobbled surface are concealed 49 water jets and colored lights. These combine to form a wonderful spectacle, and special programmed water displays are regularly staged.

Firefighters' Fountain

The Firefighters' fountain is located in Penn Valley Park, and is dedicated to the city's firefighters, and to the memory of those who have given their lives in the course of duty.

The fountain has a large basin, with a statue of two firefighters in action rising from the middle of the basin. Instead of water issuing from the central statue, the edge of the basin houses a number of water jets which constantly stream water in an arc towards the center of the fountain.

Meyer Circle Fountain

Sometimes referred to as the Seahorse Fountain, the Meyer Circle fountain is one of the oldest in Kansas City. Located at the intersection of Ward Parkway and Meyer Boulevard, its centerpiece is a 17th century Venetian sculpture, bought by Kansas City developer J. C. Nichols in the 1920s.

The fountain has several tiers. The base is made up of three seahorses, all streaming water from their mouths. These creatures support the middle basin, from which a column rises, decorated with cherubs. You can browse many fountains for your own home or garden at http://www.garden-fountains.com.

This central column supports the topmost basin, which sports a child, playing with a dolphin as its centerpiece. Water flows from all three levels into a large ground level basin.

The fountain is sited in the middle of a traffic circle, and although it has been damaged by vandalism and traffic several times over the years, it has always been lovingly restored by the people of Kansas City, and is truly one of Kansas City's most remarkable fountains.

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The Fountains of Kansas City

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The Fountains
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