Michelson-Morley Memorial Fountain

The Michelson-Morley Memorial Fountain is a modern water feature on the Case Western Reserve University campus. It consists of a chrome-plated steel cylinder with 12 curved metal plates positioned above a circular basin where water flows and creates shifting light patterns.

The fountain was built in 1973 to honor an 1887 scientific experiment that challenged prevailing ideas about how light travels. This work fundamentally changed physics understanding and opened doors to new theoretical directions.

The fountain connects scientific discovery with art and serves as a gathering place where visitors reflect on physics and research. It sits within the daily rhythm of university life, where students and faculty pass by regularly.

The installation sits in a central campus location and works well as a meeting point or photo spot. Visit during daylight hours when water movement and steel reflections are most visible and create interesting visual effects.

The inside of the steel cylinder is painted black, creating a striking contrast with its shiny exterior and producing different visual impressions depending on the angle and time of day. This design choice gives the memorial an unexpected depth that only becomes apparent when viewed from different positions around the fountain.