Bicentennial Cascade Fountain, Lincoln, Nebraska
Restoring a monumental water sculpture to Nebraska’s Retired Teachers.
EDIT June 2022 — The Fountain is Dedicated and Opened
I like pretty much everything. If it crosses my line of sight, I will probably photograph it. I love all art, my tastes are broadly eclectic, and if I see something I don’t like I can just pass on by.
I like this fountain. I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, after my beloved died at the end of 2016, and at first, I was dreadfully lost in every way possible. I arrived in February 2017, and Nebraska in the dead of winter isn’t especially helpful or welcoming. The rest of that year is somewhat hazy, as you can imagine—stranger in a strange land.
In the spring of 2018, I got out and about to discover what Lincoln had to offer. I happened across this massive, blocky, almost monolithic cascade fountain and was captivated. It is probably not everyone’s cuppa, but I photographed it from every angle, unaware that the fountain was soon to be shut down because, at age 40, it was a wreck. Not obviously — but underground. The plumbing was shot, and the structure and pond were leaking. The cost was estimated to be over a million dollars. The fountain is partially privately owned, so there was still a million+ to be raised despite a half-million-dollar challenge grant.
Fundraising was a major time-suck, plus the Covid pandemic slowed the entire world to a crawl, but in the spring of 2021, demolition of the fountain's basin finally began. I hadn’t photographed it for three years; I thought trying to capture some of the late-stage progress might be fun.
The restoration is now nearly complete and the fountain is scheduled to reopen sometime in Spring 2022.
Bicentennial Cascade Fountain
Built in 1978, the fountain is the result of a collaboration between the Lincoln Area Retired Teachers Association (now Lincoln Area Retired School Personnel) and Lincoln Parks and Recreation to commemorate the nation’s Bicentennial. The fountain was dedicated to Nebraska Retired Teachers by the Nebraska State Retired Teachers Association and the City of Lincoln Parks and Recreation.
“Like the water of a fountain flowing endlessly on, the work of a teacher affects eternity.” — Inscription on the commemorative bronze plaque at the site. — Lincoln Parks and Rec.
The restoration work required the entire basin to be demolished to access the pipes and valves beneath. The plumbing was replaced entirely as none of the old iron pipes or valves were salvageable. I am surprised it took only a year. The new layout has a smaller basin to accommodate landscaping improvements, picnic benches, and shaded seating. Cheerful strings of lights set off the patio. The new landscaping is coming along nicely. As of mid-April, the grass and beds are not in, but they will be, and I can hardly wait.
This 2022 I’ve visited twice, at sunrise on March 1 and again at “sunrise” on April 5. I was there, but the sun was not. Ya works wiv’ the light Mother gives ya. The following pairs have March 1 pictures on the left and April 5 on the right. I was not trying to duplicate the March 1 angles exactly but hoped to come close.
Full disclosure: every picture has been edited, and the Photoshop Phairy has visited some.
I drive by often, excited to watch the progress, and I can barely wait for the water to flow. My 2018 pictures were made in late June, and if you look closely, you can see water coming out from places it shouldn’t and the leakage at the northeast corner. I will try to duplicate the set I did four years ago so I can compare and contrast. 😊
EDIT — Sunday, June 5, 2022 — The Fountain is Dedicated and Opened to the Public!
Regrettably, the water will have to be turned off for a time due to a faulty pump that also affects the irrigation of the Sunken Gardens, but I am excited to see it flowing again at last. 👍😍👍
