“Where water flows—or there is the sound of water, people find relaxation…”
—Tricia Knoll, Communications Director, Portland Water Bureau
By John Gorman
Portland’s image in inextricably linked to water; Oregon’s biggest city is well known for its generally rain-soaked location at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers and for the sheer numbers of lakes, waterfalls and beaches nearby. At the same time, Portland residents and visitors are blessed with one of the most diverse, comprehensive and artistic collections of outdoor water fountains in the U.S.—or even around the world. Water wall fountains are just used as drinking fountains, they are beautiful and decorative as well.
When Portland’s weather turns sunny and bright through the spring and summer—and it does, honest—one of the first things you will notice is people flocking to the city’s 17 decorative and over 120 drinking water fountains spread throughout the metropolitan area. Whether for recreation, relaxation or just a cold drink, Portland’s water fountains truly offer something for everyone.
Following are some highlights for anyone interested in learning more about Portland’s love affair with water fountains:
The “Benson Bubblers”—famous gifts from Portland’s past
By far the best known of all Portland’s outdoor fountains, the legendary “Benson Bubblers” are ornate, bronze drinking-fountain bowls that provide free, fresh drinking water throughout downtown.
The colorful history behind the Bubblers rings like a typical Wild West tale of the late nineteenth century. Early Portland legend and lumber baron Simon Benson— nondrinker himself—realized that local saloons were slaking the thirsts of his parched timber-company employees. Eager to provide an alternative refreshment, he originally paid for the installation of 20 fountains created by noted Benson Hotel designer A.E. Doyle, which he insisted flow 24 hours a day uninterrupted.
Soon thereafter, Benson proudly noted that saloon sales dropped nearly 40%—a trend more likely attributed to the growing temperance movement than to free water fountains. Still, the Bubblers have remained famous, functional Portland landmarks, and on hot summer afternoons they are especially appreciated by all.
Salmon Street Springs Fountain—Portland’s most popular?
Of course, there is no way to quantitatively gauge which of Portland’s water fountains are the most popular, but if you measure appeal by the amount of people you see nearby on a nice day, Salmon Street Springs would consistently be at or near the top of any list.
Salmon Street Springs may very well be the centerpiece of the city’s ultra-popular Tom McCall waterfront park, a picturesque span of green along the western banks of the Willamette River as it flows through downtown. Children of all ages delight at the fountains’ rhythmic, changing patterns that cycle through “Bollard,” “Mister” and “Wedding Cake” formations as sprays from its arching, inward-facing jets converge in the fountain’s center—all controlled by a computer underneath the main structure.
Ira Keller Forecourt Fountain—a great place to get your feet wet
You can roll up your pant legs and swing your feet in it, wade on in or just sit on the stairs and feel the water misting behind you.
It is Portland’s centrally located Ira Keller Forecourt fountain, inspired by the area’s waterfalls, designed by Michael Lawrence Halprin, built in 1971 and named after the man who brought urban renewal to this great city. Located directly across from Portland’s City Auditorium, this urban oasis pumps 13,000 gallons per minute to entertain businesspeople, families and everyone else who walks or stops by.
Hint: look for the cozy little nook, hidden by a cascading wall water fountain.
Skidmore Fountain—commissioned for “horses, men and dogs”
In 1878, noted Portlander Stephen Skidmore took a trip to France for the Paris Exposition. He returned inspired to create a fountain for his home city with the same beauty and appeal. After its completion, the colorful Skidmore posthumously specified that the fountain be intended to serve “horses, men and dogs,” the ordering of which Portlanders still chuckle about today.
Skidmore fountain was so elegant, in fact, that some on the East Coast thought it a bit out of character for the “frontier town” they considered Portland at the time. As if on cue—and perhaps in response to the city’s anti-alcohol-themed Benson Bubblers water fountains—legendary Portland brewer Henry Weinhard offered to pipe fresh beer through the fountain 24/7. The offer was politely declined, although it would have certainly made for an interesting social experiment.
Today, Skidmore Fountain is the centerpiece of a Portland retail institution—the Portland Saturday Market, which runs every weekend each year from March through December 24. The city’s unofficial motto, “Good citizens are the riches of a city,” is inscribed in its base.
Pioneer Courthouse Square Fountain—in the heart of “Portland’s Living Room”
Since the late 1970’s, when the city acquired the land for public use, Pioneer Courthouse Square has been called “Portland’s Living Room”—and at its center has been this mesmerizing, multi-level cascade of water. After deteriorating substantially over time, the city commissioned over $120,000 to completely restore this civic treasure in 2006. Read about the McCoy Fountain in Portland.
At full capacity, the main fountain pumps 900 gallons per minute, while the upper fountain pumps 300 gallons per minute.
The Lovejoy Fountain Plaza—A Romantic Escape
Built in 1966, The Lovejoy Fountain Plaza was created by Lawrence Halprin. Halprin’s vast experience included working at various scales from sculptural fountains to urban renewal designs and regional planning. This variety of expertise allowed Halprin to create landscapes featuring beautiful water fountains to be enjoyed by all parts of society. This designer is known for incorporating artwork into the overall scheme of the existing environment. To Halprin, the design process was equally important as the final product.
Portland’s Lovejoy Fountain Plaza is a prime example of Halprin’s methodological design methods. The Lovejoy Fountain is an organic landform contoured into the overall landscape of the Plaza. The varying and multilevel concrete staircases add to the modern feel of this urban architecture. Strategically placed amongst lush, towering trees, Halprin undoubtedly anticipated the final use of this fountain masterpiece. Immersed in the middle of a natural park like setting, the Lovejoy Fountain Plaza is the perfect place to share a romantic and relaxing picnic during one of Portland’s famously mild spring afternoons.
Learn more about visiting Portland’s water fountains
From the rugged Oregon seacoast, the high mountain passes of the Oregon Cascades, the lush greenery and magnificent waterfalls, learn more about Oregon at http://www.el.com/to/oregon/.