This fountain is the best-known and most-photographed of all of the city's fountains. It is located at the east entrance to the popular Country Club Plaza district. The figures were sculpted by Henri Greber in 1910 and adorned the mansion of Clarence Mackay in Long Island, NY. Over the years the fountain was vandalized and eleven parts were missing. The Nichols family initiated the purchase and installation which was funded by the family, the city and private contributions including a collection by school children in the Kansas City area. It was brought to Kansas City in 1951 and refurbished by Herman Frederick Simon and dedicated in 1960. The J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain has four heroic horsemen which are said to represent the four rivers of the world: the Mississippi River (the Indian riding the horse and beating off an alligator), the Volga River (with the bear), the Seine and the Rhine.
The Boy and Frog Fountain is an original bronze and Verona marble fountain by Raffaello Romanelli. On the base is a faun on a dolphin. The bowl & pedestal are rose colored Verona Marble. Purchased in 1929 in Florence, Italy, this fountain has impressed and amused visitors to the Plaza.
This wall fountain is one of three, which was inspired by the Alhambra Court of Lions fountain in Seville, Spain. This black volcanic stone lion is emerging from its decorative niche on the wall.
The Neptune Fountain on the Plaza is a favorite. Miller Nichols purchased the 8,000-pound cast lead fountain for its weight in scrap metal. It was found on the top of a train car full of scrap metal by workmen at a salvage company. Installed in the 1950's, the Roman god of the sea moves in his chariot pulled by three attributes, the trident, dolphin and sea horse. The fountain originally came from the Bromsgrove Guild, Worcestershire, England in 1911

Nice photos, and interesting history of these fountains. No sas today, Jacobus Swanepoel!
ReplyDeleteQuite the gorgeous day!! Too bad all I did was work in the yard!! No fishing! :(
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI miss living in KC!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to check out some of these fountains!!!
ReplyDeleteDo you think the city would consider stocking any of these fountains with fish!!
ReplyDeleteGW, I think the fish would just stink up the fountains, and maybe this entire city!!!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many little kids stand in front of the boy and the frog and giggle??
ReplyDeleteI bet a whole bunch!!!
ReplyDeleteStill looking for RSA fountains!
ReplyDelete