Early-twentieth century Chicagoans were proud of their city, and they wanted to broadcast its greatness to the rest of the world. Some wanted to build a massive civic building in Grant Park—something to rival the great architectural achievements of older cities. But Aaron Montgomery Ward opposed this idea, arguing that the land (and access to the lakefront) needed to remain "forever open" to Chicago residents. 

Whatever his motives, Ward prevailed, and city leaders found a compromise. They commissioned architect Edward Bennett to build a fountain of epic proportions, complete with ornamentation and an elaborate system of pumps and lights. The fountain fit in well with architect Daniel Burnham's early drawings for the 1909 Plan of Chicago, which included, among other things, some kind of fountain centered in Grant Park.

The Buckingham Fountain, adorned with statuary by French artist Marcel Loyau, was completed in 1927. A light show and performance of "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa's band accompanied the dedication ceremony. Kate Buckingham funded the project and named the fountain after her brother Clarence, who passed away in 1913.

Buckingham Fountain lived up to its iconic reputation when it provided the backdrop for Queen Elizabeth's arrival to Chicago in 1959. While touring Canada and the Saint Lawrence Seaway on Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, the Queen and royal party stopped in Chicago for a quick fourteen-hour tour of the city. The Britannia docked across Lake Shore Drive from the Buckingham Fountain; making it one of the first things the royal party would have seen when they began their whirlwind visit.

Today, Buckingham Fountain is one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions. It is a designated Chicago Landmark and part of Grant Park's listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the pumps in use today have been in service since the fountain’s 1927 installation. 

Art Institute of Chicago. "Case 2: Kate Sturges Buckingham." http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/exhibitions/Ryerson/Making-History/2. Accessed August 2016. 

Chicago Park District. "Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain." http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/clarence-f-buckingham-memorial-fountain/. Accessed August 2016.

Glessner House. "Clarence Buckingham." http://glessnerhouse.blogspot.com/2013/08/clarence-buckingham.html. Accessed August 2016.

Prasinos, Chloe. "Nice Pipes: The Inner Workings of Buckingham Fountain." WBEZ Chicago. https://www.wbez.org/shows/curious-city/nice-pipes-the-inner-workings-of-buckingham-fountain/45ed2872-0b70-4f4e-ade8-eca3e9f03009. Accessed August 2016. 

Sokol, David. "Art, Public." Encyclopedia of Chicago Online. http://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/80.html. Accessed August 2016. 

Historic image “Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, Chicago” c. 1927, courtesy Library of Congress

Text by Hope Shannon, Loyola University Chicago