Buckingham Fountain's $25 million restoration project

Click on the image for enlarged view ...

A couple enjoying the view of one of Chicago's most iconic treasures the Buckingham Fountain, as it's central jet shoots water up to 150ft (46m) high ..

The Buckingham Fountain ... is undergoing a $25 million restoration project [starting Sep 2, 2008].. The goal is to finish the project by April 1, 2009 .. when the Olympic Committee is coming into town.

The restoration includes:
# Plan to produce an even more spectacular water and lighting show ...
# Mend the leaky outer basin, which will be taken apart, repaired and reassembled ...



Click on the image for enlarged view ...

# Treating the fountain's bronze sea horses and fencing ..
# Replacing the loose pink gravel at the site with precast stone and concrete pavers.
# Also, landscaping and the planting of trees will more closely mirror the original plans by Edward H. Bennett.

Read more in my earlier post on the Buckingham Fountain .. click here .. ...



Click on the image for enlarged view ...

Buckingham Fountain has been one major attraction for tourists, health conscious joggers, enviormentally friendly cyclists ... and newly weds looking for great photo-opt ...





Buckingham Fountain's designer ... Edward H. Bennett .. was born in Wiltshire, England in 1874... But he close to settle down in Chicago... Along with Daniel Burnham, he co-authored the "Plan of Chicago" in 1909 ... Burnham and Bennett created a working document giving substance to the City Beautiful philosophy. From this prototype Bennett developed comparable plans for numerous American cities, including Minneapolis, Detroit, and Portland, Oregon.