Highlighting Portland – The Fountains

Posted on March 15, 2009 by jackieinpdx

Every weekend I am going to be highlighting different areas of the city and state I live in. Bennie’s blog has several recent postings about his work visits to Portland and some of the local areas he has visited.

Oregon’s unemployment rate last month was 10% and growing. I want to do my part in letting people know what a great city and state I live in and invite you to come to Oregon and spend money.

I posted about the Portland bridges a couple of weeks ago. So now you know that Portland is a city divided by the Willamette River. But did you know that Portland’s love of water has spread to dry land? In downtown Portland there are 15 fountains of various size and design.

Rather than recreate something I am going to share what the Portland Water Bureau has on their website regarding Portland’s downtown municipal fountains.Each fountain is unique it is own way. There is the history of each fountain along with a photo.

Fountains in Southwest Portland: “These are the city’s fountains that I am most familiar with having worked in downtown Portland my entire adult life.”

  • Skidmore – Considered Portland’s oldest piece of artwork. Saturday Market surrounds this fountain.
  • Elk – Right smack in the center of Main Street as you enter downtown from the Hawthorne Bridge.
  • Salmon Street Springs – Located at Portland Waterfront Park a great place to let the kids cool of during on a hot summer day.
  • The Dreamer – recently restored
  • Ira Keller’s Civic Forecourt Fountain – Another fountain that locals use to cool off in on a hot summer day. I personally did just that when I was a teenager.
  • Lovejoy – Ditto what I wrote above
  • Chimney
  • The Car Wash” – This one is across the street from my office and the gathering place for us when we have to evacuate the building for a fire drill.
  • Animals in Pools – One of ten fountains installed along the downtown light rail route.
  • Kelly Fountain
  • The Bath Tub – Soon to be removed due to the expanded light rail project.
  • Pioneer Courthouse Square Waterfall – Probably the most visited as it is the focal point of Pioneer Courthouse Square.
  • Shemanski Fountain
  • O’Bryant Square – I used to work in the building across the street back in the early 80’s. My view was of this fountain and back in those days it was not unusual to see a homeless person bathing in the fountain in the early morning hours especially on weekends.
  • Commonwealth

So there you have it. A tour of downtown Portland’s water fountains. Unfortunately some will be or have already been removed or shut off due to the expanded light rail project. But the large more impressive fountains will remain as places that both locals and visitors can enjoy for years to come.

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