Fairmount Park in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Fountain of the Sea Horses
Original c. 1740; 1926 Reproduction
— Attributed to Christopher Unterberger —
This travertine marble fountain featuring four sea horses, symbols of strength and vitality, was a gift from the Italian government to mark the United States' 1926 Sesquicentennial. It is a copy carved after the famed fountain at the Villa Borghese Gardens in Rome, Italy designed by painter Christopher Unterberger and carved by sculptor Vincenzo Pacetti.
The fountain arrived too late for installation at the Sesquicentennial Exposition, held in FDR Park in South Philadelphia. It was assembled at this location in 1928 by Italian craftsmen as part of the original Philadelphia Museum of Art landscaping.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.
Location. 39° 58.061′ N, 75° 11.02′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Fairmount Park. Marker is on Waterworks Drive, 0.1 miles south of Kelly Drive, in the median. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Philadelphia PA 19130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Revolutionary War Heroes (within shouting distance of this marker); How the Water Works Worked / Useful & Beautiful (within shouting distance of this marker); The Forebay (within shouting distance of this marker); Friedrich von Steuben
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Additional keywords. landscape architecture
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 217 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 8, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
