Chicago - Near North Side / Nicholas J Melas Centennial Plaza and Fountain





Nicolas J Melas Centennial Fountain


Nicholas J Melas Centennial Plaza and Fountain

Built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to Great Chicago.

Location: Chicago River Explanade
in the North Bank of Chicago River

Nicholas J Melas Fountain

Nicholas J melas Fountain

Nicholas J Melas Fountain

Nicholas J melas Fountain

The Water Arc / Nicholas J Melas Fountain

Every hour on the hour, from 10:00 to 14:00 and again from 17:00 to midnight, the esplanade's Centennial Fountain shoots a massive arc of water across the river for 10 minutes. The entire exercise is meant to commemorate the labor-intensive reversal of the Chicago River in 1900, which tidily began sending all of the city's wastes downriver rather than into the lake.

Water Arc / Nicholas J Melas Fountain

Water Arc / Nicholas J Melas Fountain