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Buckingham Water Fountain is constructed from Georgia pink marble, and is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions, and is located at Columbus Drive in Grant Park. The Chicago Buckingham Water Fountain is the largest fountain in the world. One of the exciting features of the Buckingham Fountain is the 133 jets that spray 14,000 gallons of water per minute, as high as 135 feet in the sky. The entire display for the Chicago Buckingham Fountain is computer controlled, which includes the illuminating colored light shows that takes place nightly from 9pm to 11pm. Music was added in 1999 to the Buckingham Fountain in order to add a bit more appeal to the colored show. In the summer time, people enjoy eating their lunch by the Buckingham Memoriam Fountain. Now, because of the amount damage that was done to the stone and concrete stairs, skateboarders, in-line skaters are banned from the area. White Christmas lights illuminate Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain during the winter time.
The history of Buckingham Fountain may be of interest to anyone who has an eye for architecture. In 1927 Kate Buckingham dedicated Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain to the people of Chicago in memory of her late brother, Clarence. In that time, she made sure a $300,000 trust fund was established to ensure that the Chicago’s tax payers would never have to cover all of the repair and up keep costs for the Buckingham Memoriam Fountain. The Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain was dedicated on August 26, 1927. Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain is the Route 66 starting point for the highway that ran to Los Angeles.
The Buckingham fountain history is also intricately tied in with the history of Chicago. It is the work of architect, and planner Edward H. Bennett, who in 1909 was a significant figure in the creation, and execution of the Plan of Chicago. This plan was instrumental in encouraging the creation of lakefront amenities such as the Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain, and Bennett’s other plans included the amazing Michigan Avenue Bridge.
When you visit Grant Park, The Navy Pier, or the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the other exciting Chicago attractions, be sure you check out, and spend some time relaxing by the brilliant Buckingham water Fountain.
