Fountain of Time

Fountain of Time
Fountain of Time in southeast Washington Park at the western edge of the Midway Plaisance
Artist	Lorado Taft
Year	1920, dedicated 1922
Type	Concrete
Dimensions	7.3 m × 38.66 m × 7.16 m (24 ft × 126 ft 10 in × 23 ft 6 in)
Location	Washington Park (outdoor), Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates	41°47′12.3″N 87°36′27.9″W / 41.786750°N 87.607750°W / 41.786750; -87.607750

Fountain of Time, or simply Time, is a sculpture by Lorado Taft, measuring 126 feet 10 inches (38.66 m) in length, situated at the western edge of the Midway Plaisance within Washington Park in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States.^[1] The sculpture is inspired by Henry Austin Dobson's poem "Paradox of Time". Its 100 figures passing before Father Time were created as a monument to the 100 years of peace between the United States and the United Kingdom following the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. Father Time faces the 100 from across a water basin. The fountain's water was turned on in 1920, and the sculpture was dedicated in 1922. It is a contributing structure to the Washington Park United States Registered Historic District, which is a National Register of Historic Places listing.

Part of a larger beautification plan for the Midway Plaisance, Time was constructed from a new type of molded, steel-reinforced concrete that was claimed to be more durable and cheaper than alternatives. It was said to be the first of any kind of finished work of art made of concrete.^[2] Before the completion of Millennium Park in 2004, it was considered the most important art installation in the Chicago Park District.^[3][4] Time is one of several Chicago works of art funded by Benjamin Ferguson's trust fund.

Time has undergone several restorations because of deterioration and decline caused by natural and urban elements. During the late 1990s and the first few years of the 21st century it underwent repairs that corrected many of the problems caused by these earlier restorations. Although extensive renovation of the sculpture was completed as recently as 2005, the supporters of Time continue to seek resources for additional lighting, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation has nominated it for further funding.