Full Description
A Stunning Exploration of New York's Most Enchanting Fountains
New York City's fountains are more than just decorative features - they are historical landmarks, cultural icons, and dynamic works of art that shape the city's landscape. In Fabulous Fountains of New York, award-winning author and native New Yorker Stephanie Azzarone takes readers on a captivating journey through the artistry, history, and hidden stories behind these remarkable waterworks.
From the grandeur of Central Park's Bethesda Fountain to the sleek modern cascades of the Unisphere in Queens, this beautifully illustrated book showcases more than fifty fountains across all five boroughs. Alongside these celebrated landmarks, Azzarone uncovers lesser-known gems, such as Triumph of the Human Spirit and the long-forgotten temperance fountains, revealing how they reflect the city's evolving cultural and political landscape.
With vivid storytelling, she traces the work of the architects and artists who shaped these fountains, exploring the historical events they commemorate and the scandals, controversies, and tragedies that surround them. Whether serving as refreshing retreats on hot summer days, symbols of civic pride, or gathering places for contemplation and protest, New York's fountains have played a vital role in the city's life.
Accompanied by breathtaking photography by Robert F. Rodriguez, Fabulous Fountains of New York captures the beauty and movement of these dynamic waterworks - from classical bronze and stone sculptures to contemporary interactive installations. Perfect for history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, and urban explorers, this book invites readers to rediscover New York through its most mesmerizing fountains.
Contents
Introduction xiii
MANHATTAN
DOWNTOWN (SOUTH OF 34TH STREET)
Bosque 5
New York City Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza 7
Wireless Operators Memorial 10
Bowling Green 12
Sunken Garden 15
World Trade Center 9/11 Reflecting Absence Memorial Pools 17
Silverstein Plaza 21
City Hall Park / Jacob Wrey Mould 22
Triumph of the Human Spirit 26
Lily Pond 28
Temperance 29
Slocum Disaster Memorial 31
Washington Square Park 34
Jackson Square 37
James / Union Square 39
Madison Square 41
MIDTOWN (34TH STREET TO 59TH STREET)
Bella Abzug Park 45
Truth and Beauty 47
Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial 51
Midtown Waterfalls 54
McGraw Hill 54
Greenacre Park 54
Paley Park 56
Avenue of the Americas 57
Lilholts Pooley Pool / Christmas Balls 57
Fountain Wall 58
1271 Avenue of the Americas 58
1301 Avenue of the Americas 59
1345 Avenue of the Americas 59
Four Seasons 60
Channel Gardens 62
Prometheus 64
Seagram Building 67
Pulitzer 69
Columbus Circle 72
USS Maine National Monument 75
59th Street Horse Troughs 78
Frederic J. De Peyster 78
Mrs. Henry C. Russell 78
Edith Bowdoin 79
Evangeline Blashfield 79
UPTOWN (NORTH OF 59TH STREET)
Revson 83
Bethesda / Angel of the Waters 86
Cherry Hill 90
Robert Ray Hamilton 92
Rotunda 95
Metropolitan Museum of Art 97
Firemen's Memorial 99
Conservatory Center Garden 101
Burnett 103
Untermyer / Three Dancing Maidens 105
Straus Memorial / Memory 107
Frederick Douglass Memorial 110
Peace 113
Woman's Health Protective Association 115
Hooper 117
THE BRONX
Macombs Dam Park 121
Heinrich Heine / Lorelei 123
Rockefeller/Italian 125
Lillian Goldman Fountain of Life 128
Metropolitan Oval / Fantasia 131
BROOKLYN
Columbus Park 137
Bailey 140
Brooklyn Botanic Garden 143
Osborne Garden 143
Lily Pool Terrace 143
Jenkins 143
Lion's Head 144
Rose Arc Pool 144
Jane and David Walentas 145
Civic Virtue Triumphant over Unrighteousness 147
Domino Park 150
QUEENS
Unisphere 155
Fountain of the Fairs Mist Garden 158
STATEN ISLAND
Fountain of the Dolphins 163
Neptune 165
Notes 167
Acknowledgments 171
Index 173
