A Chicago Love Etched in Water

The Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain, commonly known as Buckingham Fountain, attracts millions of visitors each year and serves as a symbol of memory, culture, and public gathering in Chicago. But there’s also a bit of sorrow behind its beauty. Established to honor a beloved family member, the fountain carries deep meaning for both Chicagoans and the tourists who gather to admire its majestic water displays.

Clarence Buckingham, an avid art collector and businessman, died unexpectedly at the age of 58, leaving behind his fortune and extensive art collection to his sister, Kate Buckingham. Upon inheriting his wealth, Kate worked diligently to preserve her brother’s passion for art. She loaned and later donated many works, while also providing generous financial support to the Art Institute of Chicago. Buckingham Fountain stands as a lasting tribute, reflecting the depth of her love for her brother and her desire to ensure his memory would continue.

During warmer months, people sit nearby enjoying lunch, and during prom season couples and friends pose happily with the fountain as their backdrop. This enduring presence invites reflection on the many ways the fountain enriches the city as a symbol of romance, or more simply, love. 

For movie enthusiasts, one might recall the scene from Love Jones when Darius Lovehall and Nina Mosley stroll by the fountain, their newfound affection etched into the moment. Or the complexities of love portrayed in Married… with Children (1987–1997) between Al and Peggy Bundy, and then there's the nostalgic joy of youth captured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). Each time, the fountain adds its own quiet magic to the scene.

The fountain stands as a shared space where love, memory, and culture continuously flow as do archival collections and history. Television and film give cinematic depth and dialogue that make moments more memorable, but the same is true of old photographs, artifacts, and historic monuments such as this fountain. Built perhaps to counter sadness and grief, it has come to be known as the city’s front door; a place that welcomes, invites, and endures.

Images of the fountain will continue to be captured and shared, but if you’re ever curious to see the ways that Special Collections has preserved the fountain, you might find interest in these collections: Chicago Park District Photographs and Drawings, City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs and Chicago Postcard Collection. Also, please share your favorite movies or television shows that feature the fountain.