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    Buckingham Fountain

    4.5 (416 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 11:00 pm

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    Ariel W.

    If you are vising Chicago, this is one of the not to be missed iconic landmarks. The Buckingham Fountain is managed by the Chicago Park District is one of largest fountains in the world. It features impressive water displays and stunning architecture in the beautiful setting of Grant Park. The Buckingham Fountain was built at a cost of $750,00 and it was dedicated on August 12, 1927. Philanthropist Kate Buckingham donated the funds for the fountain as a tribute to her brother, Clarence who was an art collector of Japanese prints. Kate collected medieval sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts. In addition to the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain she also donated a statue honoring Alexander Hamilton in Lincoln Park and her family's art collection to the Art Institute of Chicago. Clarence Buckingham had been a governing member and a trustee of the Art Institute and Kate was influenced by his association with the institution. The Buckingham Fountain was designed by architect Edward H. Bennett in a classic Art Deco style out of pink marble. The sculptural elements were created by French artist Marcel Loyau. The fountain resembles a rococo style wedding cake and was inspired by the Bassin de Latone and modeled on the Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles in France. The fountain symbolizes the vastness of Lake Michigan, with four groups of bronze seahorses representing the four states bordering the lake: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The fountain is able to propel 14,000 gallons of water per minute. At night the fountain comes alive with lights and dancing water jets. The fountain is known for being featured in the opening of the television show, Married with Children. The Buckingham Fountain stands as a symbol of Kate Buckingham's philanthropic generosity and her love for her brother and the City of Chicago. Enjoy a picnic one one of the well maintained lawns and seating areas near the fountain where you are to create a lasting memory in the heart of Chicago. I will always treasure my visit.

    So neat!!!
    Lisa L.

    Still five stars. It's running today and it's very crowded. Great to see so many people enjoying it!

    Andrea U.

    This is a prominent landmark in Grant Park & one of the largest fountains in the world, symbolizing the enormity of nearby Lake Michigan. It uses as much as 15,000 gallons of water per minute. While in operation, the Fountain produces a major water display for :20 on the hour. During the major display, a center jet shoots water 150 feet into the air. In 1927, the fountain was a gift from Kate Buckingham to honor her brother, it is a testament to their family's philanthropy. The fountain's design is in the Beaux-Arts style, with decorative details and bronze sculptures, particularly the four seahorses representing the states bordering Lake Michigan.

    Nick G.

    Stopped by Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park after seeing The Bean and Crown Fountain. The scale of it is impressive, with the water shooting high into the air and the city skyline as a backdrop. On a clear day it's a great place to sit for a bit, take photos, and enjoy the view. The fountain runs on a schedule, so catching the larger water displays adds to the experience. It's also lit up at night from what I heard, which makes it worth seeing more than once. Bathrooms are also available on site. A classic Chicago landmark that's easy to fit into a walk through the park.

    Buckingham fountain
    Roger M.

    Wow - amazing fountain - I think more amazing that it fits right into the surroundings of the Chicago skyline - like it's so belongs here! All I gotta say is you gotta see it to really enjoy it. It was donated by Kate Buckingham, who the fountain is named after of course. Is in the shape of a wedding cake spouting and cascading waters all about. Per Wikipedia one of the largest fountains in the world so wiki can be wrong but it's a damn big big fountain in a darn big big big city.

    No water
    Trevor C.

    Buckingham Fountain is absolutely stunning and a must-see in Chicago. The size, but unfortunately it was closed and empty for cleaning. Nonetheless the skyline backdrop make it the perfect photo spot. Whether you visit during the day or catch it lit up at night, it's a beautiful and iconic experience.

    Brad G.

    It's a fountain! This reminds me of the grandiose fountain in Philly. I love it! The only difference is the lack of shade and park area. It sits right next to Grant/Millennium Park but it's well away from any trees. The fountain in Philly seems like it was built with every intention of constructing a park around it and having it hug the fountain. This place could be that but it's just wide open and sun baked. There are a few tree areas close by but you might as well be elsewhere because they don't make you feel like you're visiting the fountain. I was actually surprised by how empty it was around the fountain. It was in the mid-60s to mid-70s while we were in Chicago. It was perfect weather to be hanging out at the fountain but with little shade. Since this is further south in the park, I feel like it might not get noticed as much as Cloud Gate and things on the north side. Even without the shade, this is absolutely a spot worth trekking to.

    Kathleen A.

    Finally rolled through Chicago when the fountain was on and it did not disappoint. Shooting high in the sky and spraying people down on a hot Chicago day. I think this fountain was worth the wait. Yeah, I grew up watching Married With Children so there was a certain nostalgia that came with the visit but that is fine by me! Reminded me of that episode where Kelly was on the trivia show but her brain was full and every nonsensical thing she learned pushed on eof the trivia answers out of her brain. What an episode!

    View of the city from Buckingham Fountain.
    Tim S.

    I really wanted to see the "Married with Children" Fountain so I made my way down here. I paid for parking at the Millennium Garage and walked a couple blocks down here to see the fountain in action......or so I thought. I got there and see a sign that says it doesn't open until next weekend (May 10th, 2025). Lame! I was a week early. Still cool to see though, and the park its in would be an awesome place to hang out and walk in if it wasn't so cold outside.

    Lana E.

    Super gorgeous fountain! We caught it at the perfect time when the spray was extremely high! The area around is large and spacious. This is the perfect place to walk! Just past the fountain you can take a water taxi ride back to your desired destination.

    James L.

    Popularized back in the late 80's to mid-90s in the opening sequence of the "Married with Children" TV show, Buckingham Fountain has been a historical landmark in Chicago since philanthropist Kate S. Buckingham donated it back in 1927. Almost in the center of Grant Park, it is worth a visit to observe as the mechanical jets manipulate the water into all manner of ariel acrobatics, with some water streams shooting water up to 150 feet into the air. There are benches lining the perimeter of the fountain to appreciate the spectacle; which also provides a nice respite from the hours of walking which tourists usually engage when in Chicago. We weren't able to return in the evening when decorative lights accompany the water show, but it was still lovely to visit during the daytime. So do as visitors and locals do and stop by, snap a few pics and then upload to your social media platform of choice.

    Skyline
    Smith Family O.

    I just love coming here when I'm in the Chicago area. It's been awhile but it's always awesome. Beautiful area for pictures. They were getting ready for the lollapalooza weekend so it was a busy area. I recommend visiting this area, there is plenty to do and see. Many shops, bars and restaurants nearby.

    Tank G.

    This historic fountain is located in Grant Park. It is eye catching an is located in a huge plaza area with benches around the perimeter to sit. It is a very busy, but relaxing spot, as you listen to the flow of the fountain's water. You may recognize this fountain from the opening of the show Married with Children or in the movie The Break-up. The fountain was dedicated in 1927 and added to the the National Register of Historic Places in July 1993. It was donated to the city by philanthropist Kate Buckingham, who named the fountain after her late brother Clearance. The fountain is billed as one of the largest fountains in the world. The fountain is constructed of Georgia pink marble and contains 1.5 million gallons of water. The fountain consists of 3 basins with the bottom pool of the fountain being 280 feet in diameter. Additionally, the fountain has 134 jets that are powered by 3 pumps. Luckily, I was able to catch the fountain operating during its final week of the season. The fountain operates from 8AM to 11PM daily, normally from early May through mid-October, depending on weather. It's operation was extended to the end of October this year due to the late warm weather they were experiencing. The fountain has an amazing water show which occurs every hour on the hour and last approximately 20 minutes, where the fountain's center jet shoots up vertically to about 150 feet. I was staying at a hotel nearby and the water show is what caught my eye and brought me in. This is a must see attraction if you are in downtown Chicago. You can pair it with a visit to historic Grant Park, where it is centrally located and make a trip of it.

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    Pretty tame for a prominent landmark. Nothing very special, but it's cool at the very least.

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    Yes, this is the fountain we all remember from the opening credits of "Married With Children." I'm getting old.

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    Skydeck - NEVER FORGET (look closely)

    Skydeck

    3.5(952 reviews)
    0.9 miThe Loop

    Skydeck Chicago is one of those attractions that absolutely lives up to the hype. Whether it's your…read morefirst time in Chicago or your tenth, seeing the city from 103 stories up is an unforgettable experience. The views are breathtaking, and stepping onto The Ledge is both terrifying and exhilarating. Standing on a glass floor 1,353 feet above the streets of Chicago definitely gets your heart racing! On a clear day, you can see four different states, which makes you realize just how incredible the view really is. I also loved that the experience begins long before you reach the top. There are interactive exhibits and fun facts about Chicago and Willis Tower that make the wait enjoyable and help build the anticipation. Fun fact: The glass boxes of The Ledge extend 4.3 feet outside the building and are made of multiple layers of laminated glass strong enough to hold up to 10,000 pounds. Knowing that didn't completely calm my nerves, but it certainly helped! If you're visiting Chicago, Skydeck is a must-do. The combination of stunning views, fascinating history, and an adrenaline rush makes it well worth the visit. Five stars without hesitation!

    The overall experience and the downstairs museum detailing the city's history (with its great…read moredisplays and model train) are wonderful. However, the operations leave a lot to be desired. While a 90-second time limit makes sense on a packed day, on a slow day with only 10-20 people in line and 4 decks available, they should easily extend it. Instead, they cram multiple groups into one deck--forcing our party of four adults to share tight space with two strangers--and strictly require everyone to enter simultaneously. By the time you get settled and overcome any nerves, your 90 seconds are already up. We would have rated our experience much higher, but an employee soured the end of our visit. When we politely asked him to take a photo, he rudely and repeatedly barked that he would only do so if we left immediately afterward, even though we had timed our visit and were barely over the limit. Great attraction, but better customer service and flexibility are desperately needed.

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    Buckingham Fountain - landmarks - Updated August 2026

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