Buckingham Fountain
Every hour, a center jet rockets 150 feet into the Chicago sky — and after dark, colored lights choreograph the whole thing.
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Donated in 1927 by Kate Buckingham in memory of her brother, this rococo fountain at the heart of Grant Park was modeled on the Latona Fountain at Versailles — then scaled up to represent Lake Michigan itself. Four pairs of sea horses carved by French sculptor Marcel Loyau each stand for one of the lake's border states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.
What to look for
- The four pairs of sea horses at the fountain's base — each pair represents one of the four states bordering Lake Michigan
- The center jet during an hourly water show, which climbs to 150 feet and runs for 20 minutes
- The rococo wedding-cake tiers, designed by beaux arts architect Edward H. Bennett after the Bassin de Latone at Versailles
Operates 8 am–11 pm daily, early May through mid-October; water shows run every hour on the hour for 20 minutes, with colored-light choreography after dusk.
Buckingham Fountain is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Chicago, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Chicago pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Chicago
- Willis TowerIt held the world's tallest title for nearly 25 years after opening in 1973 — and the Skydeck is still the highest observation deck in the United States.
- Art Institute of ChicagoFour paintings you've seen your whole life — Nighthawks, La Grande Jatte, The Old Guitarist, American Gothic — hang in the same building.
- John Hancock Center (875 N Michigan Ave)A moving platform pivots you 30 degrees outward over the Magnificent Mile — 1,128 feet of nothing beneath your feet.
- Aon CenterWhen it opened in 1973 as "Big Stan," this 83-floor tower was the fourth-tallest building on Earth — and clad entirely in marble.
- United CenterThe Bulls hardwood floor is literally assembled over the Blackhawks ice and taken apart game by game — two teams, one frozen surface, shared by puzzle.
- Soldier FieldThe NFL's oldest stadium lost its National Historic Landmark status because of the renovation meant to save it.