Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Washington, D.C. Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain
AO Edited

Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain

A spectacular tribute to statesman and philanthropist Andrew Mellon.

Washington, D.C.

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Mellon Fountain   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Mellon Fountain   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Mellon Fountain   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Mellon Fountain plaque.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Mellon Fountain   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Mellon Fountain   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  tehutika / Atlas Obscura User
Mellon Fountain bench.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Mellon Fountain is a beautiful tribute in bronze, granite, and quartz to Andrew Mellon, a wealthy industrialist, statesman, and founder of the National Gallery of Art. The gallery sits across Constitution Avenue just a short walk from the fountain.

Sculpted by Sidney Waugh, the fountain features three nested bronze basins that allow water from a 20-foot spouting jet to cascade from the smaller center basins into larger circular basins below—and ultimately into a fourth granite basin at the bottom.

The largest of the bronze basins is adorned with the signs of the zodiac, which reportedly sit in their correct astrological positions for the sun's rays. This bronze basin was the largest of its kind ever cast at the time of construction. The fountain is encircled by a granite walkway and a large, semicircular granite bench. Waugh also has sculptures located outside the National Archives and the Federal Reserve Board buildings.

The fountain, initially dedicated in 1952, was out of operation between 2008 and 2016. After a restoration effort funded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the fountain spouted to life on March 17, 2016, during the 75th Anniversary of the opening of the National Gallery of Art. Today, it is still running strong.

Related Tags

Fountains Art History & Culture

Know Before You Go

The inscription on the bench reads:

"1855.ANDREW W.MELLON.1937FINANCIER.INDUSTRIALIST.STATESMANSECRETARY OF THE TREASURY 1921–1932 AMBASSADOR TO GREAT BRITAIN 1932–1933FOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 1937THIS FOUNTAIN IS A TRIBUTE FROM HIS FRIENDS"

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Edited By

Collector of Experiences, tehutika

  • Collector of Experiences
  • tehutika

Published

July 8, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.nga.gov/press/2016/fountain.html
  • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_W._Mellon_Memorial_Fountain
  • https://www.nga.gov/press/2016/fountain.html
Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain
401 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, District of Columbia, 20565
United States
38.892333, -77.019535
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Man Controlling Trade

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Rotunda of the Provinces

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The National Gallery's Art Materials Collection

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Nearby Places

Man Controlling Trade

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Rotunda of the Provinces

Washington, D.C.

miles away

The National Gallery's Art Materials Collection

Washington, D.C.

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

United States

Places 285
Stories 50

Related Places

  • The front side of the fountain.

    Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

    Nahum Gutman's Mosaic Fountain

    The history of Tel Aviv told through a work of art.

  • Fitzgerald Fountain

    Mumbai, India

    Fitzgerald Fountain

    A tribute to one of Bombay's former governors that has withstood the test of time.

  • Tampa, Florida

    Goya Paintings at Hotel Haya

    Rescued, handpainted reproductions of iconic Francisco Goya paintings, now in a hotel.

    Sponsored by VISIT TAMPA BAY
  • Verfmolen de Kat

    Zaandam, Netherlands

    Verfmolen De Kat

    This windmill has been grinding pigments for traditional paints for more than 200 years.

  • Trg 1. maja

    Piran, Slovenia

    Trg 1 Maja

    Piran’s oldest square is laden with history and a beautiful 18th-century reservoir.

  • The bronze ships are elaborate and wind-swept

    Battery Point, Australia

    Tasman Fountain

    Located alongside the famous Salamanca Market and in sight of Parliament House, this large and elaborate monument is hard to miss, split into two sections and standing some 14 meters tall.

  • Tokyo, Japan

    Shin-Ōhashi Bridge

    The predecessor to this bridge was depicted in a famous Japanese woodcut print that influenced Van Gogh.

  • Santiago Padrós Locomotion Mosaic

    Tarragona, Spain

    Santiago Padrós Locomotion Mosaic

    This work of art was conceived as a mosaic originally designed to decorate a car dealership.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.