Waterfront Fountain Explained

Waterfront Fountain
Metric Unit:cm
Imperial Unit:in
Condition:Damaged, under repair
City:Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates:47.6071°N -122.342°W
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:13

Waterfront Fountain was an outdoor 1974 fountain and sculpture by James FitzGerald and Margaret Tomkins, installed along Alaskan Way in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington.[1] [2] [3] The fountain was located adjacent to the Seattle Aquarium at Waterfront Park on Pier 58.[4]

History

FitzGerald created several fountains for parks around the Seattle area, including one at the Seattle Center for the Century 21 Exposition in 1962. He was commissioned to design a fountain for the new Waterfront Park, but died in 1973 before work was finalized.[5] The project had been funded by a $75,000 donation from Helen Martha Schiff.[6] Following his death in 1973, his widow Margaret Tomkins lead the effort to complete the fountain's design.[7] It was completed alongside the park in October 1974.[4] [8]

On September 13, 2020, the central portion of Pier 58 collapsed during early demolition work following the discovery of extensive structural issues. The structural integrity of the pier had been compromised by a combination of the environment and the supports for the fountain failing. The fountain, weighing 4 tons, fell into the water along with two contractors who were working on the demolition.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Waterfront Fountain . Public Art Archive . November 23, 2012 . February 18, 2019.
  2. Web site: Seattle good will keeps on flowing with fountain . February 19, 2011 . The Seattle Times . February 18, 2019 . February 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218141945/https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/seattle-good-will-keeps-on-flowing-with-fountain/ . live .
  3. Web site: Walking tours . www.seattle.gov . February 18, 2019 . November 24, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191124084315/http://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Arts/Downloads/WalkingTours/Waterfront.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: Seattle Arts Commission meets to review last public-sculpture fountain by James FitzGerald and Margaret Tomkins on March 5, 1974. . . February 18, 2019 . March 30, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190330083923/https://www.historylink.org/File/20622 . live .
  5. News: October 9, 1973 . James FitzGerald, Seattle sculptor, dies . D14 . The Seattle Times.
  6. News: July 24, 1973 . Funds received for fountain . A9 . The Seattle Times.
  7. News: Farr . Sheila . March 22, 2002 . Outspoken Seattle painter Margaret Tomkins dies . B1 . The Seattle Times . February 17, 2019 . February 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218141808/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020322&slug=tomkins220 . live .
  8. News: Lane . Polly . October 20, 1974 . City dedicates its waterfront park Friday . E1 . The Seattle Times.
  9. Silverman . Hollie . 2 injured after Seattle pier partially collapses, sending workers into the water . . 2020-09-13 . 2020-09-13 . April 10, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160410041113/http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=10948 . live .

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