The Skidmore Fountain is a historic

fountain A fountain, from the Latin "fons" (genitive "fontis"), meaning source or Spring (hydrology), spring, is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water. It is also a structure that jets water into the air for a decorative or dramatic effect. ...

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The fountain is a contributing property of and the namesake for the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District, which is also a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

. The fountain has also been designated a Portland Historic Landmark and underwent restoration in 2005.

History

Skidmore Fountain - Portland, Oregon (2015)

It was dedicated September 22, 1888, in memory of Stephen G. Skidmore, a wealthy Portland druggist who died in 1883, and partly financed by his

will Will may refer to: Common meanings * Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death * Will (philosophy), or willpower * Will (sociology) * Will, volition (psychology) * Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will ...

. It was designed by sculptor

Olin Levi Warner Olin Levi Warner (April 9, 1844August 14, 1896) was an American sculptor and artist noted for the striking bas relief portrait medallions and busts he created in the late 19th century. Life Warner was born in Suffield, Connecticut. Warner's gre ...

for $18,000, all of which was donated. It is styled after fountains Skidmore viewed at

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...

on his visit to the 1878 Paris Exposition and intended for "horses, men and dogs" to drink from.

Henry Weinhard Henry Weinhard (February 18, 1830 – September 20, 1904) was a German-American brewer in Portland, Oregon. After immigrating to the United States in 1851, he lived in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Sacramento before settling in th ...

offered to pump

beer Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...

into the fountain at the dedication. It is Portland's "oldest piece of public art". The fountain is located near the west end of the

Burnside Bridge The Burnside Bridge is a 1926-built bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, United States, carrying Burnside Street. It is the second bridge at the same site to carry that name. It was added to the National Register of ...

at SW First and Ankeny streets within downtown Portland. The

MAX Light Rail The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) is a light rail system serving the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. Owned and operated by TriMet, it consists of five color-designated lines that altogether connect the six sections ...

line runs past it and has a nearby stop named after the fountain. When

Portland Saturday Market The Portland Saturday Market is an outdoor arts and crafts market in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest continuously operated outdoor market in the United States. It is held every Saturday and Sunday from the beginning of March through Decembe ...

is operating, the open area around the fountain attracts street performers and entertained spectators. The fountain also serves as a gathering point for several Portland events, such as SantaCon,

Plunderathon Plunderathon is an annual Piracy, pirate-themed festival in Portland, Oregon, United States that usually coincides with Fleet Week or the Portland Rose Festival, Rose Festival. Plunderathon is run by a group calling itself "the Infernal Order of Pi ...

, Zombiewalk and several protest/activist gatherings. In 2003, when characterizing the neighborhood,

Portland Development Commission Prosper Portland, formerly the Portland Development Commission (PDC), is the community development corporation A community development corporation (CDC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated to provide programs, offer services and engage ...

commented, "there are significant public safety issues around the Skidmore Fountain Station under the Burnside Bridge", and said it, "experiences one of the highest drug related arrest rates in the city". Drinking trough on northwest side of Skidmore Fountain

Drinking trough on northwest side of Skidmore Fountain

The fountain's base has various inscriptions on its different faces. That on the northwest side is a quotation from

C.E.S. Wood Charles Erskine Scott Wood or C.E.S. Wood (February 20, 1852January 22, 1944) was an American author, civil liberties advocate, artist, soldier, attorney, and Georgist. He is best known as the author of the 1927 satirical bestseller, '' Heavenly ...

: "Good citizens are the riches of a city".

References

External links

OMSI physics gallery
video and audio of fountain

{{Public art in Portland, Oregon 1888 establishments in Oregon 1888 sculptures Bronze sculptures in Oregon Drinking fountains in Oregon Fountains in Portland, Oregon Old Town Chinatown Outdoor sculptures in Portland, Oregon Portland Historic Landmarks Historic district contributing properties in Oregon Southwest Portland, Oregon National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon Fountains on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon

History

See also

References

External links