Washington Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fountain of Time

Lorado Taft, Sculptor

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026

1. Fountain of Time Marker

Inscription. Lorado Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in Chicago in 1936. He designed this fountain at his nearby studio at 60th Street and Ingleside Avenue. Commissioned by the Ferguson Fund, it was dedicated in 1922. The sculptor left his self-portrait at the back, the figure in artist's smock, figure bowed, hands clasped behind and followed by his Italian workman. A line by Austin Dobson had suggested the theme, 'Time goes, you say? Ah no, alas! Time stays, we go.' Taft later wrote 'The words brought before me a picture. I saw the mighty crag-like figure of time leaning upon his staff, his chin upon his hand and watching endless march of humanity.'

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 41° 47.206′ N, 87° 36.449′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Washington Park. It is at the intersection of Payne Drive and Midway Plaisance, on the right when traveling south on Payne Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60637, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is on Chicago’s South Side. It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Allison Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); The Boulevard System (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington Park (about 400 feet away); Lorado Taft (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of the First Self-sustaining Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction (approx. half a mile away); Charles E. Merriam Center for Public Administration (approx. ¾ mile away); Enrico and Laura Fermi (approx. ¾ mile away); Masaryk Memorial Monument (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . .
1. Fountain of Time. From the Chicago Park District.

Excerpt: "Although Taft had planned to carve the work out of stone, he decided that
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026

2. Fountain of Time
The text describing the sculpture is on the square stone on the ground just in front of the cloaked "Father Time" at the front of the sculpture.
that it would be difficult and costly to create the sculpture that way. He conferred with engineer and sculptor John J. Earley (1881–1945), who had recently invented a type of concrete construction that allowed for an enhanced use of color and texture. Relying on this new method, Taft had assistants, students, his own three daughters serve as models for the figures. He also included a self portrait at the rear of the sculpture. The B.F. Ferguson Fund of The Art Institute of Chicago commissioned the monument to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of an 1814 peace treaty between America and Canada. The Fountain of Time was dedicated on November 15, 1922."

(Submitted on October 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Lorado Taft (1860-1936): Art. A bio by the University of Chicago, where he served as an art lecturer.

Excerpt: "Much better known are his larger works, including Blackhawk at Oregon, Illinois, the Columbus Fountain, which stands in front of Washington's Union Station, and two Chicago commissions - The Fountain of the Great Lakes at the Art Institute of Chicago and The Fountain of Time at the west
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026

3. Fountain of Time
end of the Midway Plaisance. Completed in 1922, The Fountain of Time was intended as one in a series of bridges, monuments, and figures to stretch between Washington Park and Jackson Park. Taft derived inspiration for the sculpture, with its flowing line of humanity passing before a solid unmoving figure, from the sobering words of Austin Dobson's couplet: Time goes, you say? Ah no, alas, time stays. We go.

(Submitted on October 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

3. The Paradox of Time, by Auston Dobson. The British poet Austin Dobson published this poem in 1883. (Submitted on October 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 17, 2026

4. Father Time

Lorado Taft at work on his <i>Fountain of Time</i> sculpture image. Click for more information.

Chicago Daily News Collection, courtesy of the Chicago History Museum (DN-0072457), 1920

5. Lorado Taft at work on his Fountain of Time sculpture

Credits. This page was last revised on October 18, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 18, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.