Entry No. 72 — the Chicago file — filed under: outdoor

Fountain of Time

Lorado Taft's 1922 concrete procession of 100 hooded, shrouded figures marches past a robed Father Time — cast from 250 tons of material in 4,500 separate molds, with Taft sculpting his own bowed, smock-wearing likeness into the crowd. The reflecting pool sat bone-dry for over fifty years before being refilled in 2005.

The move: Walk the length of the reflecting pool at dusk and try to spot Taft's self-portrait among the hundred marching figures — then read the plaque on the never-finished companion piece, the Fountain of Creation.

• 📍 Washington Park
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: West end of the Midway Plaisance at Cottage Grove Ave, Washington Park, Chicago, IL 60637

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · chicagoreader.com

last checked: 2026-07-19