Originally Known as The 9th Street Fountain

Kansas City is the place to find several hundreds of wonderfully crafted water fountains. As a matter of fact fountains takes part in Kansas City’s main attributes, character and culture, and it even uses a graphic design of a stylized fountain in its official logo.

The oldest fountain still in working order in Kansas City is the Women’s Leadership Fountain, which was formerly known as the 9th Street Fountain.  The Women’s Leadership Fountain is an outdoor fountain was built after the first city built fountain was at 15th and Paseo in 1899 as it was also dedicated the year after.  After a couple of years several fountains were also created all throughout Kansas City, mean while the15th Street Fountain was ruined in 1941, making the 9th Street Fountain the oldest.

George Kessler designed both the 15th Street Fountain and the 9th Street Fountain. He was one of the men who made significant progress to Kansas City’s appearance and being. In fact Kessler took the imitative when we speak of developing parks and boulevards are so distinctive and one of a kind in Kansas City.  Together he joined forces with Parks Board architect John Van Brunt in designing the 9th Street Fountain.  The Women’s Leadership Fountain was actually intended to be an entry feature to Paseo Boulevard, which had just been built.

In contrast to the new constructed fountains nowadays, The Women’s Leadership Fountain was a simple one. The entire cost of its construction ranges only up to $4,115, which is far way compared by today’s standards.  The features of the fountain consist of a limestone basin cut in an oval. There is also a water jet that shot a spray from the center of the fountain upwards.  The Women’s Leadership Fountain was positioned on a raised sidewalk with a neighboring flower garden and gas lights.

For a time in the 1940s, the 9th Street Fountain malfunctioned, but it was only repaired   d in 1970.  On the other hand, the fountain stopped working again after a several years. In 1990, it was repaired and the cost of expenses reached up to $125,000.  The Central Exchange, a Kansas City organization focusing on women leadership in local business and community efforts, was in the fore front to do the restoration.  As a tribute to the organization who headed the fund-raising to meet the monetary requirements to renovate the fountain, it was then named as The Women’s Leadership Fountain. The names of 12 the important women leaders from Kansas City were inscribed on the fountain.

Despite the fact that it was renovated recently the water fountain stumbled and was again in bad shape.  The plumbing is non-functioning and the foundation of the 107-year-old construction is collapsing. Central Exchange and others are doing the hard work of raising a total 1.3 million dollars for the total renovation of the fountain which includes updating its features but keeping its genuine design, the Paseo Boulevard is also included in the renovation, which also depreciates as time goes by. Another famous fountain in Kansas City is the Fire Fighters Fountain, which is a tribute to all the fire fighters who risked their lives to put out fires throughout the city.

The most famous and most photograph outdoor fountain is situated in Kansas City. This outdoor fountain is known to be J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. Like any other fountains located in Kansas this fountain was also constructed to give tribute to a man in the name if Jesse Clyde Nichols.

Jesse Clyde Nichols, known usually as J.C. Nichols, was an important developer in Kansas City who lived in the City from 1880 to 1950.  Among his great contributions are the expansion and appearance of Kansas City.  The establishment of the Country Club Plaza was also one of his many efforts. The structure is known as the first suburban shopping area in the United States.  It was in year 1922 when his plans for the Plaza were exposed, his idea of a shopping district purposely intended for people arriving in cars had never been conceived or created before leaving the public with of that kind of development, and Country Club Plaza has remained a triumphant shopping district since up to this day.

In Actual fact The J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain was made in Paris, in the year 1910 by a French sculptor named Henri Greber.  From Paris it was then transported to a large estate in Roslyn, New York, and then it was named “The Mackay Fountain.”  The outdoor fountain served as a centerpiece of the large formal gardens there until 1949.  In 1938 a fire destroyed the estate that even the figures were vandalized.   In order to salvage the damaged figure it was sold in the year 1951 and afterwards the Nichols family brought the pieces to Kansas City.

Despite the fact that the family has already some concepts on building a memorial but it was only until the year 1957 that the Parks Department donated the necessary land, along with sidewalks and landscaping.  The Nichols family and other friends lend out some money for the repair of the broken Greber Figure to repair well as restoration of the damage done. The reconstructed water fountain was installed as a part of the Country Club Plaza that had brought Nichols so much popularity. In the year 1960 the fountain was then officially dedicated to Jesse Clyde Nichols which now stands as J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain in 1960.

The fountain includes a pool with an 80-foot diameter. There are also four mounted figures standing over ten feet high ring a two-tiered sink at the heart of the pool.  Although the symbolism of the four mounts were unclear to the public but it was deemed as representations of the world’s great rivers, the Rhine, Seine, Mississippi and Volga. Also to be found in the central basin are   smaller figures of children riding dolphins.  Water shoots 30 feet up from the center fountain basin and the dolphin figure shoot water towards the center.

Today, it is an undeniable fact that The J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain has become one of the city’s most renowned water fountains. Even couples would come see and take a picture of it.  The water fountain is a fitting tribute to a man who has brought so many innovations to its appearance.  It is proper that the fountain is positioned in the plaza that is one of Nichols greatest achievements. Large Outdoor Fountains similar to this great fountain are available for people who want their own large water fountain for their yard or garden.

It has been a general knowledge that when we speak of amazing water falls, the ones that are located in Kansas City are notable and at the same time amazing.  One of the most remarkable water falls in this place is the Seahorse fountain or also called as the Meyer Circle fountain. Aside from its beauty this water fall is also one of the oldest fountains situated in Kansas City.

The Meyer Circle fountain is located at the intersection of Meyer Boulevard and Ward Parkway. Noticeably, a lot of fountains are placed and displayed along Kansas City’s boulevard. One of the many individuals who have brought large assistance to the development of Kansas City is a man named J.C. Nichols. Nichols provided the city with outstanding designs that serves as significant features of the city including the Seahorse Fountain.

Aside from that, Nichols even had spent his own money buying a sculpture for a water fountain in Venice Italy and sent it to Kansas City. The sculpture stood there for almost 300 years. As a matter of fact Nichols is the one responsible from transporting numerous number of sculptures made in Europe to Kansas City.

Meanwhile, it was Architect Edward Buehler Delk took inspiration, ideas and concepts of the 17^th century and then later on integrated these concepts into designs for fountains. Architect Edward Buehler Delk was a student of Greek and Roman architecture who at that time worked for the J.C. Nichols Company.  After serving the Nichols Company, he worked with Frank Lloyd Wright on two Kansas City buildings.  Similarly all his inventions and creations can be seen in numerous structures all over the city of Kansas.

The completion of the sea Horse Fountain took place in 1925 a two-tiered basin that is held up by three cupids, a dolphin and the three seahorses consists the structure. These figures rest on a larger limestone base which is positioned in a larger basin.  A child and dolphin is on the top of the bowl that is made from Italian marble.  This stunning fountain stands 16 feet high including the limestone foundation.

There were several times that the Seahorse Fountain has been disfigured and repaired.  It also endured severe damage when it was hit by a car crash. In 1994 there was an idea to repair and reconstruct the figures however, this was not materialized form the damages were too severe.  The figures were recast in sandstone and then replaced.  By 2000, the fountain was again busted when a child on top of the fountain was broken off in an act of vandalism.  A stone craftsman from St. Louis restored the damaged sculpture at no charge, a donation which was estimated at $100,000.

In spite of the persistent damages that have been done to it, the outdoor fountain remains a distinguished and a lovely landmark to be found in along the residential area of the city.  The fountain is regarded as one of the city’s most sophisticated structure. The general affect of the design is of a legendary scene viewed from amid fragile sprays of water and mist. For those who love the idea of having an Outdoor Sea Horse Fountain similar to the famous Sea Horse fountain, there are smaller fountains with similar designs that would go great in any garden or yard setting.

Kansas City is known to the public as the “City of Fountains” for its abundance of the water-flinging structures. The most fantastic fountain of all is the Crown Center Square Fountain. The water flies 60 feet in the air out of dozens of spouts. For the period of the busiest hours at the park, there are water shows where the fountain sprays and shoots water to trace music from the Kansas City Symphony.
As we can perceive today, it has been an unspoken law in Kansas City that building of water fountains can augment and emphasize the appearance and ambiance of a place. The accumulation of the vast number of public outdoor fountains is also being followed by privately owned outdoor fountains.  One of the most magnificently equal and well known of these in Kansas City is the Crown Center Square Fountain.
The Hallmark Card Company was the developer of the Crown Center, and had its headquarters in the City of Kansas.  In the period of 1960, the headquarters is surrounded with vacant lots, establishments that have closed down and other abandoned stock rooms. This sight has given the Hall family the idea of remodeling and re constructing this site of the city. It was in 1967 that the public were informed that Crown Center will soon rise in the said area. The center was to be a long-term expansion which will merge hotels, bureaus, trade, and amusement and housing functions. The ground breaking officially happened in 1968 a year after which also encompasses the square landscape of the Crown Center Square Fountain.
Crown Center Square Fountain was first seen operation in 1972.  It was one of kind among other existing fountains because of its great design.  It lacks collecting basin or any kind of noticeable plumbing.  As a substitute it is equip with 49 jets that shoot water about 25 feet high into the air.  The accumulation of illumination that shines through the shooting water gives off a theatrical effect.  The fountain is approximately 2,000 square feet and is grounded in a cobblestone-paved portion of the square.
One can have and enjoy the pleasure of the Crown Center Square Fountain by fooling around in the water. Nobody would really mind. When you are with your kids, you need not worry of them not being able to enjoy the place since playing around the fountain is very much allowed.
In 2006, the water fountain, undergo a major renovation project making the fountain much more striking and appealing with “dancing water” displays added to its features.  The water displays can be synchronized to music being broadcast from the new sound system that has been installed in the square.
When you are visiting the Crown Center Square Fountain you just don’t enjoy its aesthetic value but at the same time, would be able to re connect with the inner child in you and playing with the water as the music fills the air.