The National Mall in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Fountain

Smithsonian National Museum of American History

— Kenneth E. Behring Center —

The Fountain Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 11, 2025

1. The Fountain Marker

Inscription.

Now a landmark feature of the museum's north entrance, this fountain faced shifting design plans and dwindling construction funds that almost kept it from being built. In 1966 architect Walker O. Cain proposed the fountain we see today. Completed in 1969, it uses pressurized jets to shoot water into sculptural shapes. After over 45 years of use, major renovations starting in 2016 restored the fountain's original components and contributed to the Smithsonian's sustainable design initiative with high-efficiency equipment including a tank for reusing water.

Caption
The Constitution Avenue fountain at night

Erected by Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 2016.

Location. 38° 53.508′ N, 77° 1.815′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. It is on Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50) 0.1 miles east of 14th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east. On the grounds of the National Museum of American History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Public Art for a Modern Museum (here, next to this marker); Legacy of War (a few steps from this marker); A National Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Making A Modern Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); From Workers to Environment (within shouting distance of this marker); Common Ground (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ingenuity (about 300 feet away); Discovery (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Renovating the Fountain (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . National Museum of American History. (Submitted on August 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 11, 2025

2. The Fountain Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 117 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.