Chicago - Buckingham Memorial Fountain

Modeled after the Latona Basin fountain at the palace of Versailles, the Buckingham Memorial Fountain was a gift to the city by Miss Kate Sturges Buckingham in memory of her brother Clarence. It was first dedicated in 1927 and has since then become one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks. It is composed of three, circular, Georgia-pink-marble basins stacked one on the other, which rise from a large pool signifying Lake Michigan. Ocean-themed carvings like shells and seaweed adorn the outside of the basins and four large, bronze sea horses, representing the states around the lake, are located inside the main pool. The central jet shoots up a 140-foot tower of water.