Louisville Falls Fountain
Encyclopedia
The Louisville Falls Fountain was intended as a major tourist attraction in Louisville, Kentucky
. It was dedicated August 19, 1988, five days after the death of its benefactor, Barry Bingham, Sr.
who, along with his wife, had donated $2.6 million towards the project and future upkeep. The fountain, located near the Belle of Louisville
and just west of the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, was supposed to be the tallest computer-controlled fountain in the world, and spewed 15,800 gallons of water per minute in the shape of a Fleur-de-lis
. The Binghams were inspired by a fountain in Lake Geneva
, Switzerland
, and hoped a fountain in Louisville would become a symbol for the city on par with the Gateway Arch
in St. Louis
.
It was to be in use from Memorial Day
through Thanksgiving
every day from morning through midnight, and stored during the winter in Utica, Indiana
. It was lit by an array of colored lights, and visible from the Belvedere
, as well as many locations in Downtown Louisville
and Jeffersonville, Indiana
.
Costs were higher than expected, and the fountain malfunctioned several times, quickly depleting the maintenance fund. Maintenance was eventually taken over by the Louisville Water Company
. It initially shot water to a height of 420 feet, though to lower operation costs this was eventually lowed by the water company to 375 feet.
Always a target for public criticism, the fountain was shut down permanently after malfunctions in 1998. It was eventually sold for scrap. And now sits in the Ohio River at the McBride Towboat Company in New Albany, IN waiting to be taken apart. It is visible on Google Earth at Latitude 38°13'54.77" Longitude -85°50'39.09" (38°13′54.78"N 85°50′38.98"W). According to reports, some parts have been scrapped.
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. It was dedicated August 19, 1988, five days after the death of its benefactor, Barry Bingham, Sr.
Barry Bingham, Sr.
George Barry Bingham, Sr., CBE, was the patriarch of a family that dominated local media in Louisville for several decades in the 20th century....
who, along with his wife, had donated $2.6 million towards the project and future upkeep. The fountain, located near the Belle of Louisville
Belle of Louisville
The Belle of Louisville is a steamboat owned and operated by the city of Louisville, Kentucky and moored at its downtown wharf next to the Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere during its annual operational period...
and just west of the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge, was supposed to be the tallest computer-controlled fountain in the world, and spewed 15,800 gallons of water per minute in the shape of a Fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
. The Binghams were inspired by a fountain in Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva or Lake Léman is a lake in Switzerland and France. It is one of the largest lakes in Western Europe. 59.53 % of it comes under the jurisdiction of Switzerland , and 40.47 % under France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and hoped a fountain in Louisville would become a symbol for the city on par with the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
It was to be in use from Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
through Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
every day from morning through midnight, and stored during the winter in Utica, Indiana
Utica, Indiana
Utica is a town in Utica Township, Clark County, Indiana, United States. The population was 776 at the 2010 census.- History :Between 1794-1825, Utica was a popular ferry crossing, as ferry crossings were considered too dangerous at Jeffersonville, due to inexperienced ferry operators and the Falls...
. It was lit by an array of colored lights, and visible from the Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere
Riverfront Plaza/Belvedere is a public area on the Ohio River in Downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Although proposed as early as 1930, the project did not get off the ground until $13.5 million in funding was secured in 1969 to revitalize the downtown area . On April 27, 1973 the Riverfront...
, as well as many locations in Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville
Downtown Louisville is the largest central business district in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the urban hub of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Area. Its boundaries are the Ohio River to the north, Hancock Street to the east, York and Jacob Streets to the south, and 9th Street to the west...
and Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
.
Costs were higher than expected, and the fountain malfunctioned several times, quickly depleting the maintenance fund. Maintenance was eventually taken over by the Louisville Water Company
Louisville Water Company
Louisville Water Company is a municipal water company which provides water to the more than 800,000 people in Louisville, Kentucky as well as parts of Oldham and Bullitt counties. Additionally, they provide wholesale water to the outlying counties of Shelby, Spencer, and Nelson counties...
. It initially shot water to a height of 420 feet, though to lower operation costs this was eventually lowed by the water company to 375 feet.
Always a target for public criticism, the fountain was shut down permanently after malfunctions in 1998. It was eventually sold for scrap. And now sits in the Ohio River at the McBride Towboat Company in New Albany, IN waiting to be taken apart. It is visible on Google Earth at Latitude 38°13'54.77" Longitude -85°50'39.09" (38°13′54.78"N 85°50′38.98"W). According to reports, some parts have been scrapped.
External links
- "Falls Fountain Flashback" — Article from August 19, 2008 issue of the Louisville Eccentric ObserverLouisville Eccentric ObserverThe Louisville Eccentric Observer is a free weekly newspaper , distributed every Wednesday in over 800 locations throughout the Louisville, Kentucky area, including areas of southern Indiana...
- "Fountain on Film", August 13, 2008