Bartholdi Fountain

The fountain cousin of the Statue of Liberty

The centerpiece of elegant Bartholdi Park, part of the US Botanic Garden, is this allegorical Fountain of Light and Water. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who later designed the Statue of Liberty, created it for the US Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia, where it was placed at the center of the esplanade. The artist loaned it with the plan to sell it and more of the same design after the fair. At the time, Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture, was working on his commission to design the US Capitol grounds, and after the Expo, he urged Congress to buy the fountain. Bartholdi was paid $6,000 – half the asking price. In 1877, it was placed in the heart of the Botanic Garden on the National Mall, quickly becoming a favorite nocturnal destination, as it was one of the few places in the city that was lit up at night with gas lamps. The McMillan Plan of 1904 called for the beautification of the city and redesigning the Mall, so when the new Conservatory was completed in 1932, the gardens and fountain were moved to their current locations.

The 30-foot-tall fountain, made of iron cast in Paris at the storied Durenne Foundry, is painted to look like patinated bronze and weighs over 15 tons. Three sea nymphs, with headdresses of leaves and tiptoeing on shells and coral, appear to support a large crown of light. Water flows past joyful tritons and the nymphs above with robust fish and wide-mouthed turtles spouting water below. It is now lit by energy-efficient replicas of the original gas lamps.

The surrounding park is an educational and demonstration showcase of innovative plant combinations, edibles and natives, design trends, and gardening methods.

At twilight the fountain silhouettes against the setting sun for glorious photos. Once the sun goes down, and the lights come on, this becomes quite a lovely and romantic spot.

Address 100 First Street SW, Washington, DC 20534, +1 (202) 225-8333, www.usbg.gov/ bartholdi-fountain | Getting there Metro to Federal Center SW (Blue, Orange, and Silver Line), Third and D Street exit, then left on Third Street, right on Independence to First Street SW; bus 32, 36 to Independence Avenue and First Street SW | Hours Unrestricted | Tip The annual Poinsettia Exhibit is one of the highlights of the winter holiday season at the US Botanic Garden, the oldest, busiest public garden in the US, established by an act of Congress in 1820 (100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001, www.usbg.gov).