Drake Fountain, Gothic fountain at Exchange Avenue, Chicago, United States.
The Drake Fountain is a Gothic-style drinking fountain at Exchange Avenue in Chicago featuring a square column topped with a pyramidal roof and supported by a quatrefoil base adorned with classical columns and carved ornaments. Four granite basins sit at each corner of the structure, originally designed as individual drinking stations.
Commissioned by hotel owner John Drake in 1892, the fountain was built to meet Chicago's need for accessible drinking water during a time of rapid urban growth. It was originally positioned near Chicago City Hall before being relocated to its current site.
The fountain reflects the city's 19th century approach to public health, where decorative architecture served the practical purpose of providing free drinking water to ordinary people.
The fountain sits on a major Chicago street, making it easy to spot and visit during a walk through the area. Today the corner basins serve mainly as decorative features, but the central structure demonstrates how public water systems functioned in the late 1800s.
The fountain's internal chambers could hold two tons of ice to keep water cool before mechanical refrigeration existed. This clever engineering solution allowed people to enjoy refreshingly cold water even on hot summer days.
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