Wichita, Kansas Fountain


We want to thank Jim Mason, Naturalist with the Wichita Parks Department for sending along the pictures and story of the fountain given to Wichita, Kansas in 1910:


This fountain has an ornamental top piece not seen on other National Humane Alliance fountains.

Ours is currently located in a small, pocket park called Victoria Park at 17th and Park Place, north of downtown.  It is not in working order due to vandalism. Click here for story of the theft of the lions' heads in 1984.

It was originally placed in the middle of the intersection of St. Francis and William streets in downtown Wichita in November 1910.  It was moved to the Central Riverside Park zoo in August 1919.  It apparently remained there until Victoria Park was created in 1977.  It is barely visible in CRP in an archival photograph from 1949.  I do not know of other earlier photographs of it. (Click here for more of the story.)

It is missing the lion heads, but the dedication plaque is still present, as well as an ornate tri-legged metal pedestal fixture on the top of it.  I do not know what the pedestal was for.  Photos attached, which were taken on February 23, 2010.

For more fountain pictures, click here. For a listing of all that have been discovered to date, click here.

Posted Feb. 25, 2010


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