Lotta's Fountain, historical fountain in San Francisco
Lotta's Fountain is a cast-iron fountain at the corner of Market, Geary, and Kearny Streets in downtown San Francisco, built in 1875 as a gift from actress Lotta Crabtree. The structure features a slender column with lion-head spigots and sits on a small traffic island amid busy streets, surrounded by historic buildings and shops.
The fountain was commissioned in 1875 by then-highly-popular actress Lotta Crabtree and originally placed at the corner of Market and Kearny Streets. After the 1906 earthquake, it became a vital meeting point for people searching for family members, and in 1916 a bronze column was added to match new street lighting standards.
The fountain bears the name of Lotta Crabtree, a beloved performer and actress of the late 1800s who grew up in San Francisco and felt connected to the public. It became a social meeting place where people gathered, and it received a plaque honoring singer Luisa Tetrazzini, who performed there on Christmas Eve in 1910.
The fountain sits in the busy downtown area on a traffic island and is easily accessible on foot from various directions. It is a brief stop with limited space to linger, ideal for a quick visit while exploring nearby shops and attractions.
The fountain played a crucial role in the 1906 earthquake memorial, where people gather every April at 5:12 a.m. to remember the quake that devastated the city. This yearly gathering with stories, remembrances, and sometimes people in period dress has made the site a place of collective memory.
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