Bagley Memorial Fountain

The Bagley Memorial Fountain is a granite structure in Romanesque style standing 18 feet tall, decorated with four lion heads and Byzantine columns at Cadillac Square near Campus Martius Park. It once functioned as a public water source with separate delivery systems for chilled and room-temperature water through its lion-head spouts.

The fountain was built in 1887 from the estate of Governor John Judson Bagley and marked the city's first permanent public water installation. It arose during an era when municipal infrastructure for public health and welfare became a civic priority.

The inscription on the cornice commemorates donor John Judson Bagley and links the structure to civic generosity and public service. The fountain served as a gathering point where residents could refresh themselves while moving through the city.

The fountain stands in a central downtown location that is easy to access while walking through the area. The structure is permanently displayed outdoors and visible year-round, with best viewing and access during daylight hours.

This is the only surviving structure designed by renowned architect H.H. Richardson in Michigan, drawing inspiration from a ciborium inside St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. The design merges European religious aesthetics with practical American goals for water access.

Location: Detroit

GPS coordinates: 42.33155,-83.04490

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:06