Bailey Fountain, Fountain and sculpture in Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, US
Bailey Fountain is a large bronze fountain in Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York. Six life-size figures surround a circular water basin, drawing on classical and mythological imagery.
The fountain was created between 1929 and 1932 by sculptor Eugene Savage, replacing earlier fountains that had stood in the plaza since the 1800s. It was part of a broader effort to give Grand Army Plaza a more monumental character after World War I.
The figures around the fountain tell a story about human life and the values that guide people. Walking around it, you notice how each bronze character seems to represent different stages of living and thinking.
The fountain stands in the center of Grand Army Plaza and is easy to reach on foot from all sides. The bronze figures and the water are best seen when the fountain is running.
Two of the six bronze figures have fish tails and appear to rise out of the water, as if emerging from the sea. This detail brings a sense of ancient sea mythology into the middle of an urban plaza in a way that many visitors do not expect.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
