- Skidmore Fountain
- Elk Fountain
- Salmon Street Springs
- The Dreamer
- Ira Kellers Forcourt Fountain
- Lovejoy Fountain
- Chimeny Fountain
- Animals in Pools
- McCoy Fountain
- Holladay Park Fountain
- Kelly Fountain
- Pioneer Courthouse Square Waterfall
- Shemanski Fountain
- O-Bryant Square
- Jamison Square
- Benson Bubblers
Portland’s Water Fountains may be one of the best tourist destinations there is. Aside from the fact it doesn’t cost you that much money, you get to enjoy the soothing sounds of water flowing and the calming and relaxing effect it gives to the sightseers or visitors. To top that, in fact, there is another thing that makes Portland’s Water Fountains worth paying a visit for. It is the awe and the thrill of witnessing works of art created for a variety of reasons and the discovery of the history of these works of art.
Portland, in a way, is very lucky to seat in its midst, these wonderful creations. Portland is one of the most fountain-centric U.S. cities, being surrounded by rivers and water-related activities. In line with this, the local government established the well-regarded municipal bureau that maintains 17 decorative outdoor fountains. Plus, the municipal bureau maintains over 120 public drinking fountains. It is of greatest pride that many Portland water fountains have been winners of local and international design competitions.
To start your pilgrimage to the beautiful fountains of Portland, you might want to consider stopping by the Portland Water Bureau. You can get all the information you need about the famous water fountains from the bureau. Portland’s Water Bureau even provides a FREE copy of their tour map which you can download or you can request a hard copy of it.
It is fairly easy to go to these fountains as most of Portland’s water fountains are easy to find and accessible via public transit within the “Fareless Square” of the city’s TriMet bus and MAX light-rail networks. Other famous fountains are also just a few steps away from the Portland Streetcar’s main routes. You can also find another group in the areas of West Burnside and TriMet Route 20. The following are certain things we need to follow for the preservation of the fountains in order for us to continue enjoying the beauty and entertainment they provide.
First and foremost, Portland’s Water Bureau reminds us NOT to drink the water! Portland’s fountains are for admiring. They are not for drinking. The water that runs through them is typically recycled and chlorinated, much like it would be in a swimming pool. However, there are designated fountains that are safe for pets.
If planning a trip to sightsee Portland’s fountains, you might want to consider bringing a camera or a sketchbook to capture a memory from these remarkable works of art. For those interested in splashing and wading, you might want to bring a swim suit or any appropriate gear.
It is not recommended to throw your coins into Portland’s outdoor fountains. If you’re planning to throw some coins for luck or some wishes, well it might be better if you rather give them to the Portland Water Bureau and other local organizations that will be able to use your coins for better use like repair and restoration of the fountains.
By the way, to enjoy you Portland Water Fountain visit, most of Portland’s decorative fountains run from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from spring through fall while the city’s drinking fountains run on timers.