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 Title:
Drexel Fountain
Artist:
Henry Manger
Commissioned
by: Sons of Francis M. Drexel
Location:
800 E. 35th Street, the Douglas Tomb State Memorial Park
Medium:
Bronze on Bronze Base
Commentary:
This is the earliest piece of fountain sculpture in the city.
It is a tribute to a man who seems never to have visited Chicago.
Francis M. Drexel was a Philadelphia banker who invested in Chicago
real estate. He owned a large track of land along what was later
named Drexel Boulevard and, to increase the value of his property,
gave land for the Boulevard to the city which developed it into
a beautiful and luxurous roadway. The gift came with the requirement
that the Boulevard, when built would be named after Drexel. Later,
his sons built the fountain and sculpture to further honor their
father.
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