A Cast-Iron Voice from Portland's Carriage Days
You stand at the junction of Southwest Sacajawea Boulevard and Southwest Sherwood Boulevard in Washington Park, where an ornate cast-iron fountain rises from an octagonal concrete pool. The Chiming Fountain—also called Cupid's Fountain or the John Staehli Fountain—speaks to a time when Portland's park served horse-drawn carriages, not cars. Built in 1891 by John "Hans" Staehli, a Swiss woodcarver who became known for his church carvings, this sculpture was the city's second piece of public art, commissioned for $400 and completed that same year. What you see now is the skeleton of Staehli's original vision: cast iron and bronze basins separated by a narrow post, four horned gargoyle-like figures anchoring the pedestal, all standing roughly 12 feet tall. The fountain's charm lies partly in what is no longer there—a boy statue, possibly depicting Cupid, once held the central post and spouted water until freezing damage in the 1920s led to its removal by the 1940s. What remains is elegant and austere, a reminder of a different Portland.
Listening to Water Drop and Watching the Fountain Work
The fountain's name comes from the gentle chiming sound made when water drips from the upper basin. Since its water-pumping function was restored after the Smithsonian Institution's "Save Outdoor Sculpture!" program flagged it as needing urgent treatment in 1994, you can once again hear that sound—a small but real pleasure in a park otherwise filled with birdsong and footsteps. The fountain was originally painted white and modeled after a Renaissance design; though it no longer wears that bright coat, its cast-iron form retains the grace of that tradition. Stand close enough and you can read the unsigned inscription on the pedestal's west side: "J. Staehli / Portland, Org. / 64 Second St."—the maker's mark on a century-old work.
Finding It and Making the Most of Your Visit
You can reach the Chiming Fountain via the Park Place Entrance, the most direct approach from downtown Portland, or by taking the Washington Park Free Shuttle, which runs continuously through the park. TriMet buses 20 and 15 also serve nearby areas, and if you are coming from the Goose Hollow MAX station, the fountain is roughly a mile away. There is no entrance fee—the fountain sits within Washington Park's open grounds. Early morning or late afternoon light is worth planning for; the cast iron darkens and gains depth as the sun moves. A visit of ten to fifteen minutes allows you to study the pedestal details and listen for the water's chiming. The fountain sits near shaded picnic tables and a kids' play area, so you can easily combine a look at it with a longer walk through the park or a family picnic.
Walking Distance to Other Park Monuments
The Chiming Fountain is part of a network of public sculptures and memorials that trace Portland's history. Adjacent to it stands the Sacajawea Statue, and nearby you will find the historic Lewis & Clark column. Together, these pieces form a coherent outdoor gallery of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century Portland art—a walking route that reveals how the city chose to remember itself. The fountain has been featured in published biking and walking tours of Portland and is listed in family-friendly guides to the city, including references in guidebooks and on sites dedicated to child-friendly activities.
The Chiming Fountain is a small monument, but it deserves the time it takes to find it. It is one of Portland's oldest works of public art, and it still sounds the way Staehli designed it to sound. Start planning a walk through Washington Park with this cast-iron marker in mind.