Skidmore Fountain | |
Portland Historic Landmark | |
 Skidmore Fountain | |
  Location in Portland, Oregon | |
| Location | Portland, Oregon,United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°31′21″N122°40′16″W / 45.52240°N 122.67108°W /45.52240; -122.67108 |
| Built | 1888 |
| Sculptor | Olin Levi Warner |
| Part of | Portland Skidmore/Old Town Historic District (ID75001597) |
| Designated CP | December 6, 1975 |
TheSkidmore Fountain is a historicfountain inPortland,Oregon,United States.
The fountain is a contributing property of and the namesake for theSkidmore/Old Town Historic District, which is also aNational Historic Landmark.[1]
The fountain has also been designated a Portland Historic Landmark and underwent restoration in 2005.[2][3] It is named forStephen G. Skidmore.[4]
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It was dedicated September 22, 1888, in memory ofStephen G. Skidmore, a wealthy Portland druggist who died in 1883,[3] and partly financed by hiswill. It was designed by sculptorOlin Levi Warner for $18,000, all of which was donated.[5] It is styled after fountains Skidmore viewed atVersailles on his visit to the 1878Paris Exposition[3] and intended for "horses, men and dogs" to drink from.[6]Henry Weinhard offered to pumpbeer into the fountain at the dedication.[3] It is Portland's "oldest piece of public art".[7][8]
The fountain is located near the west end of theBurnside Bridge at SW First and Ankeny streets within downtown Portland. TheMAX Light Rail line runs past it and has a nearbystop named after the fountain. WhenPortland Saturday Market is operating, the open area around the fountain attracts street performers and entertained spectators. The fountain also serves as a gathering point for several Portland events, such asSantaCon,Plunderathon, Zombiewalk and several protest/activist gatherings.
In 2003, when characterizing the neighborhood,Portland Development Commission commented, "there are significant public safety issues around the Skidmore Fountain Station under the Burnside Bridge", and said it, "experiences one of the highest drug related arrest rates in the city".[9]
The fountain's base has various inscriptions on its different faces. That on the northwest side is a quotation fromC.E.S. Wood: "Good citizens are the riches of a city".[8][10]
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Key: † No longer extant or on public display | |||
