Lorelei Fountain

Lorelei Fountain rises about 20 feet from white marble and shows a female figure above the basin, with sea nymphs and dolphins carved into the pedestal below. The pedestal carries additional figures representing different literary themes, while the basin itself is arranged in tiers that flow downward from the main figure.

Ernst Herter created this monument in 1896 originally for Düsseldorf, but political tensions prevented its placement there and led to its relocation to New York. The work reached the Bronx in the early twentieth century and underwent full restoration in 1998 after decades of weathering and damage.

The fountain represents Heinrich Heine's poetry through sculptural elements including poetry, satire, and melancholy figures around its base.

The fountain stands in Joyce Kilmer Park near the Bronx County Courthouse on East 161st Street in the Concourse neighborhood. Visitors can view the monument from the sidewalk and see the sculptural details best during daylight hours.

The figures on the pedestal were designed after literary motifs from Heinrich Heine's poems and connect German Romanticism with American park architecture. After restoration, the marble shines again and reveals fine details that remained hidden under pollution for decades.

Location: The Bronx

Inception: July 8, 1899

Made from material: marble

Website: http://nycgovparks.org/parks/joyce-kilmer-park/monuments/700

GPS coordinates: 40.82750,-73.92319

Latest update: December 17, 2025 10:33