Catholic Total Abstinence Union Fountain, Public fountain sculpture in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, United States
The Catholic Total Abstinence Union Fountain in Fairmount Park features a central statue of Moses with four additional figures on a substantial granite base. The water feature is arranged on a wide platform and dominates the landscape through its scale and sculptural detail.
The fountain was built between 1874 and 1877 as a commission for the 1876 Centennial Exposition. It was created by the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America to promote temperance values and has remained a park landmark since.
The fountain displays statues of prominent American Catholics and Revolutionary War figures, connecting religious and national identity in stone. You can observe these themes represented throughout the sculptures and medallions as you walk around the site.
The sculpture sits at the intersection of Avenue of the Republic and States Street in the park, making it straightforward to locate. You can visit while walking through the broader park area and viewing other public artworks in the collection.
German-born sculptor Herman Kirn designed the work with a distinctive Maltese cross pattern as its base. The water was originally fed from the George's Hill reservoir, giving the fountain a special hydraulic feature.
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