Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Sandstone terrace and bronze fountain in Central Park, Manhattan, United States.
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain form a two-level sandstone structure with grand staircases leading to a central fountain crowned by an eight-foot (2.4 meter) bronze angel statue above a circular pool. The arcade beneath the terrace offers covered walkways with a ceiling made of 16,000 restored Minton tiles arranged in geometric patterns.
Architects Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted designed the terrace during Central Park construction in 1858. The fountain installation was completed in 1873 after construction delays caused by the Civil War.
Sculptor Emma Stebbins created the Angel of the Waters and became the first woman to receive a public art commission in New York City. The fountain has served as a gathering spot for locals taking breaks or attending events for over a century.
The terrace is freely accessible around the clock and sits in the middle of the park between 66th and 72nd streets. The arcade offers shelter during rain and provides a direct path to the lakeshore.
Four cherubs beneath the angel represent temperance, purity, health and peace, while water lilies encircle the base of the fountain. The water flows over multiple levels and creates different sounds that shift depending on wind direction.
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