Columbus Fountain
Encyclopedia
Columbus Fountain is a public artwork by American sculptor Lorado Taft
, located at Union Station
in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. This sculpture was surveyed in 1994 as part of the Smithsonian's
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
program. Columbus Fountain serves as a tribute to the explorer Christopher Columbus
.
, staring forward with his hands folded in front of him. Beneath him is a ship prow
that features a winged figurehead that represents the observation of discovery
. A globe, representing the Western hemisphere
, is on top of the shaft with four eagles on each corner connected by garland
. The left and right sides of the shaft have two male figures decorating them. The right side figure is an elderly man, representing the Old World
, and on the let side is a figure of a Native American
, representing the New World
. The back of the shaft has a low-relief medallion (approx. d. 3 ft.) with images of Ferdinand & Isabella
. Two lions (approx. h. 5 ft.), placed away from the base, guard the left and right side of the fountain.
The back of the shaft is inscribed:
The fountain sits in the center of the Columbus traffic circle in front of Union Station.
, was influenced by a fountain designed by Frederick MacMonnies that was displayed at the World's Columbian Exposition
in Chicago in 1893. This work depicted a figure of Columbia sitting on a ship with a figure of Fame standing on a ship prow holding a trumpet and a representational figure of Time
dominating the stern
.
and the US Congress approved $100,000 for the sculpture on March 4, 1907, along with the city, who also donated funds for the creation of the work. In May 1907 a commission was formed for the memorial fountain headed by prominent members of the Senate as well as President Taft, who was Secretary of War at the time and served as committee chairman. Upon agreeing on the location for the fountain, a call for designs was requested by artists from America, Italy and Spain. The reason for the three countries stemmed from the committee idea that "if it should be from the hand of an American, the land which Columbus gave to the world; from an Italian, the land which gave Columbus to the world, or from Spain, the land which made Columbus's achievement possible."
Twenty sculptors submitted proposals for the fountain including: Henri Cronier, Philip Martiny
, Charles Keck
, Augustus Lukeman
, Alfred Sauder, Henry Hering
, Charles J. Pike, Pierre Feitu, Leo Lentelli
, John C. Hardy, John K. Daniels, Hans Schuler
, Giuseppi Donato, J. Otto Schweizer, V.R. Hoxie, Augustin Querol, Louis Weingartner and Taft.
Architect Edward Wilmann of Burnham's architectural firm was put in charge of the construction of the piece.
The Knights of Columbus headed up the dedication ceremony on June 8, 1912. It was estimated that at least 150,000 people were expected to attend the opening. Congress supplied an extra $6,000 for expanded police security, with the Knights requesting at least 500 officers to participate. $10,000 was contributed by the Knights of Columbus for the event decorations, supplies and general planning.
The Knights planned an entire weekend around the dedication ceremony. Friday, June 7, Knights of Columbus from around the world gathered in Washington, first visiting the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon
, following by an evening reception in Washington.
The day of the reception, Saturday, a parade was planned to feature between 80,000 to 85,000 participants. General Robert K. Evans, Chief of Military Affairs, served as the parade marshal, riding at the front of 15,000 troops from the Navy and Marines. Knights of Columbus representatives, upwards of 50,000, encompassed the second part of the parade. Parade floats followed behind, each drawn by six horses, followed by people dressed in "knightly costumes". Float themes included "The Departure of Columbus," and "Columbus Soliciting Aid from the Court of Spain," followed by 2,000 cars. President Taft overlooked the parade from the stands.
The unveiling of the art work was presided over by then Secretary of State Philander Knox with invocation given by Rector Thomas Shahan. Other notable participants included Chief Justice Victor J. Dowling, Italian Ambassador Cusania Confalonieri, James McCreary, Archbishop Bonzano, and other Catholic church notables. President Taft also provided the formal address. Saturday evening a ball was held at the convention center, again attended by President Taft and other prominent figures.
Sunday, June 9, Spanish war veterans assembled at the Washington Monument
for mass with Cardinal James Gibbons and Archbishop Bonzano. An estimated 10,000 people were believed to attend the mass. A final evening event was held at the convention center featuring the US Marine Corps Band.
celebrations are held featuring the US Marine Corps Band and a wreath laying ceremony.
, on March 7, 1968.
In October 1992 the memorial was spray painted with graffiti
and the National Park Service removed it with surface cleaners. In March 1994 the work was surveyed by the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program and was described as needing treatment.
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
, located at Union Station
Union Station (Washington, D.C.)
Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This sculpture was surveyed in 1994 as part of the Smithsonian's
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
program. Columbus Fountain serves as a tribute to the explorer Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
.
Description
Columbus Fountain is a semicircular double-basin fountain with a shaft (h. 45 ft.) in the center. The front of the shaft bears a full-length portrait of Christopher Columbus (approx. h. 15 ft.) wearing a mantleMantle (clothing)
A mantle is a type of loose garment usually worn over indoor clothing to serve the same purpose as an overcoat...
, staring forward with his hands folded in front of him. Beneath him is a ship prow
Prow
thumb|right|295pxThe prow is the forward most part of a ship's bow that cuts through the water. The prow is the part of the bow above the waterline. The terms prow and bow are often used interchangeably to describe the most forward part of a ship and its surrounding parts...
that features a winged figurehead that represents the observation of discovery
Discovery (observation)
Discovery is the act of detecting something new, or something "old" that had been unknown. With reference to science and academic disciplines, discovery is the observation of new phenomena, new actions, or new events and providing new reasoning to explain the knowledge gathered through such...
. A globe, representing the Western hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
, is on top of the shaft with four eagles on each corner connected by garland
Garland
A garland is a class of decoration, of which there are many types.Garland may also refer to:-Places:*Garland, Arkansas, a town in Miller County*Garland County, Arkansas*Garland, Maine, a town in Penobscot County...
. The left and right sides of the shaft have two male figures decorating them. The right side figure is an elderly man, representing the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
, and on the let side is a figure of a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, representing the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
. The back of the shaft has a low-relief medallion (approx. d. 3 ft.) with images of Ferdinand & Isabella
Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
. Two lions (approx. h. 5 ft.), placed away from the base, guard the left and right side of the fountain.
The back of the shaft is inscribed:
- TO
- THE MEMORY OF
- CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
- WHOSE HIGH FAITH
- AN
- INDOMITABLE COURAGE
- GAVE TO MANKIND
- A NEW WORLD
- BORN MCDXXXVI
- DIED MDIV
The fountain sits in the center of the Columbus traffic circle in front of Union Station.
Designing the fountain
The fountain, which was co-created by Taft and architect Daniel BurnhamDaniel Burnham
Daniel Hudson Burnham, FAIA was an American architect and urban planner. He was the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He took a leading role in the creation of master plans for the development of a number of cities, including Chicago and downtown Washington DC...
, was influenced by a fountain designed by Frederick MacMonnies that was displayed at the World's Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
in Chicago in 1893. This work depicted a figure of Columbia sitting on a ship with a figure of Fame standing on a ship prow holding a trumpet and a representational figure of Time
Father Time
Father Time is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, somewhat worse for wear, dressed in a robe, carrying a scythe and an hourglass or other timekeeping device...
dominating the stern
Stern
The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...
.
Acquisition
Lobbying began in 1906 for the sculpture by the Knights of ColumbusKnights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
and the US Congress approved $100,000 for the sculpture on March 4, 1907, along with the city, who also donated funds for the creation of the work. In May 1907 a commission was formed for the memorial fountain headed by prominent members of the Senate as well as President Taft, who was Secretary of War at the time and served as committee chairman. Upon agreeing on the location for the fountain, a call for designs was requested by artists from America, Italy and Spain. The reason for the three countries stemmed from the committee idea that "if it should be from the hand of an American, the land which Columbus gave to the world; from an Italian, the land which gave Columbus to the world, or from Spain, the land which made Columbus's achievement possible."
Twenty sculptors submitted proposals for the fountain including: Henri Cronier, Philip Martiny
Philip Martiny
Philip H. Martiny was a Franco-American sculptor who worked in the Paris atelier of Eugene Dock, where he became foreman before emigrating to New York in 1878— to avoid conscription in the French army, he later claimed...
, Charles Keck
Charles Keck
Charles Keck was an American sculptor, born in New York City. He studied in the National Academy of Design and Art Students League with Philip Martiny and was an assistant to Augustus Saint-Gaudens from 1893 to 1898. He also attended the American Academy in Rome. He is best known for his...
, Augustus Lukeman
Augustus Lukeman
Henry Augustus Lukeman was an American sculptor, specializing in historical monuments. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, and introduced to sculpting at age 10 at a boys' club miniature workshop. From 10 to 13 he worked with clay and wood. He then became a pupil of sculptor Launt Thompson until...
, Alfred Sauder, Henry Hering
Henry Hering
Henry Hering was an American sculptor who was born New York City on February 15, 1874 and died there on January 17, 1949.-Early career:He was a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens at Cooper Union and of Philip Martiny at the Art Students League of New York...
, Charles J. Pike, Pierre Feitu, Leo Lentelli
Leo Lentelli
Leo Lentelli was an Italian sculptor who immigrated to the United States. During his 52 years in the United States he created works throughout the country, notably in New York and San Francisco. He also taught sculpture....
, John C. Hardy, John K. Daniels, Hans Schuler
Hans Schuler
Hans K. Schuler was a German-born American sculptor and monument maker. He was the first American sculptor ever to win the Salon Gold Medal. His works are in several important museum collections, and he also created many public monuments, mostly for locations in Maryland and in the Washington,...
, Giuseppi Donato, J. Otto Schweizer, V.R. Hoxie, Augustin Querol, Louis Weingartner and Taft.
Architect Edward Wilmann of Burnham's architectural firm was put in charge of the construction of the piece.
Installation and dedication
On October 31, 1911 construction, which was supervised by A. W. Taylor of J.C. Robinson & Son, began and the piece was installed from March–June 1912.The Knights of Columbus headed up the dedication ceremony on June 8, 1912. It was estimated that at least 150,000 people were expected to attend the opening. Congress supplied an extra $6,000 for expanded police security, with the Knights requesting at least 500 officers to participate. $10,000 was contributed by the Knights of Columbus for the event decorations, supplies and general planning.
The Knights planned an entire weekend around the dedication ceremony. Friday, June 7, Knights of Columbus from around the world gathered in Washington, first visiting the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
, following by an evening reception in Washington.
The day of the reception, Saturday, a parade was planned to feature between 80,000 to 85,000 participants. General Robert K. Evans, Chief of Military Affairs, served as the parade marshal, riding at the front of 15,000 troops from the Navy and Marines. Knights of Columbus representatives, upwards of 50,000, encompassed the second part of the parade. Parade floats followed behind, each drawn by six horses, followed by people dressed in "knightly costumes". Float themes included "The Departure of Columbus," and "Columbus Soliciting Aid from the Court of Spain," followed by 2,000 cars. President Taft overlooked the parade from the stands.
The unveiling of the art work was presided over by then Secretary of State Philander Knox with invocation given by Rector Thomas Shahan. Other notable participants included Chief Justice Victor J. Dowling, Italian Ambassador Cusania Confalonieri, James McCreary, Archbishop Bonzano, and other Catholic church notables. President Taft also provided the formal address. Saturday evening a ball was held at the convention center, again attended by President Taft and other prominent figures.
Sunday, June 9, Spanish war veterans assembled at the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
for mass with Cardinal James Gibbons and Archbishop Bonzano. An estimated 10,000 people were believed to attend the mass. A final evening event was held at the convention center featuring the US Marine Corps Band.
Columbus Day
Every year Columbus DayColumbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
celebrations are held featuring the US Marine Corps Band and a wreath laying ceremony.
Condition and conservation
It was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, on March 7, 1968.
In October 1992 the memorial was spray painted with graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
and the National Park Service removed it with surface cleaners. In March 1994 the work was surveyed by the Save Outdoor Sculpture! program and was described as needing treatment.
Further reading
- Carrier, Thomas J. Washington, DC: A Historic Walking Tour. Arcadia Publishing, 1999. ISBN 0738500496.
- Ciesielski, Gregory R. Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain. Discovery! Journal of the Christopher Columbus Philatelic Society, Vol. 18, No. 2, April 2000.
- Highsmith, Carol & Ted Landphair. Union Station : A Decorative History of Washington's Grand Terminal. Chelsea Pub, 1988. ISBN 096208770X.
- Moeller, G. Martin. AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C.. The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006. ISBN 0801884683.
External links
- Christopher Columbus Statues & Monuments
- Columbus Fountain on dcMemorials
- Columbus Monument
- Delaware Avenue & Columbus Circle, NE Historical Information from The Historical Marker Database
- National Columbus Celebration Association
- National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form for Union Station & Columbus Fountain, 1979
- Religious figures among those immortalized in Washington's statuary - including many works dedicated by the Knights of Columbus
- Revisiting the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain by Ben Schuman Stoler