Fountain Square, Cincinnati

For other fountain squares, see Fountain Square.

Fountain Square
Nickname(s): "The Square"
Coordinates: 39°8′10″N 84°30′11″W
Country	United States
State	Ohio
Founded	1871
Elevation	482 ft (147 m)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	513
Website	http://www.myfountainsquare.com

Fountain Square is a city square in Cincinnati. Founded in 1871, it was renovated in 1971 and 2005 and currently features many shops, restaurants, hotels, and offices.

History

Fountain Square in 1907.

The Tyler Davidson Fountain is the centerpiece of Fountain Square

Fountain Square has been the symbolic center of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States since 1871. The square, which replaced a butcher's market, was a gift from Henry Probasco in memory of Tyler Davidson. Probasco traveled to Munich and commissioned a bronze allegorical fountain from Ferdinand von Miller named The Genius of Water that symbolizes the uses of water, both natural and man-made. Originally, the square was a large island in the middle of 5th Street with buildings to the north and south, much like nearby Piatt Park. A 1971 renovation of the square included slightly moving and re-orienting the fountain to the west, and enlarging the plaza by removing the original westbound portion of 5th Street and demolishing buildings to the north. It is used for lunch-breaks, rallies, and other gatherings.

The Fountain can be seen in the opening credits on WKRP in Cincinnati

Fountain Square's new logo.

In the early 2000s, the square was completely renovated and re-designed by 3cdc and BHDP Architecture (consulted by Cooper, Robertson & Partners and OLIN) to attract more visitors to the city, and to serve as a cultural/recreational hub for the city. In addition to the renovations, many buildings in and around the Fountain Square district are currently being renovated and redesigned to revitalize the region. The Fountain itself was completely restored and moved to a more central location in the square.

Tyler Davidson Fountain

Main article: Tyler Davidson Fountain

After the death of his brother-in-law and business partner Tyler Davidson, Cincinnati businessman Henry Probasco went to Munich, Germany in search of a suitable memorial to him. Many years before, artist August von Kreling had collaborated with Ferdinand von Miller at the Royal Bronze Foundry of Bavaria to design a fountain to rival the great fountains of Europe but which would glorify mankind rather than fanciful creatures and gods of mythology. When Miller could find no patron to sponsor the fountain, the designs languished until Probasco came to him with an interest in a similar theme. Probasco requested the addition of four figures with animals that would act as drinking fountains, which Miller's sons designed.

Features

Winter '06, renovation continues.

• The renovated Tyler Davidson Fountain
• Four Senses Planter Boxes: planters that tourists can look at, listen to, touch, and smell
• Free Wi-Fi
• A new/renovated Fountain Square Garage
• New granite tiling that resembles woven fabric
• A seasonal ice skating rink as large as the famous Rockefeller Centerrink in NYC
• A new/dynamic landscape
• Better lighting and sound design
• Restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options
• Two new stages
• A new 24'x42' high-resolution video board that rests on top of Macy's
• A new interactive water wall in the children's area
• More downtown Ambassadors

Events

One of the works in the "EcoSculpt 2010" exhibition.

Fountain square has many events all through the week including speeches, games, movies, concerts, giveaways, and festivals. The square also has many seasonal events such as Halloween on the square, the ice rink, Octoberfest (largest outside of Germany)^{[citation needed]} and more.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day 2010, the square featured "EcoSculpt 2010", an exhibit of sustainable art. The exhibit included "Atlas Recycled" by Tom Tsuchiya, a sculpture made of used atlases that doubled as a recycling receptacle for plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

Fountain Square District

The Fountain Square District is becoming a restaurant and entertainment hub. It contains many offices, hotels, specialty shops and includes signature restaurants that are not found anywhere else in Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky.

Dining

• Via Vite (Italian)
• Boi Na Braza
• Chipotle Mexican Grill
• McCormick & Schmick's (seafood)
• Morton's of Chicago
• Mynt Martini
• Palomino
• Rock Bottom Brewery
• Cadillac Ranch — steak house/bar
• Bistro JeanRo
• Graeter's Ice cream
• Potbelly Sandwich Works
• Probasco market
• The Restaurant at The Phoenix

Retail

• Macy's
• T.J. Maxx
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Brooks Brothers
• Tiffany and Company
• Jones the Florist
• JoS. A. Bank Clothiers
• Tower Place Mall — over 75 shops and since late summer of 2007 it is being redesigned.
• A movie theater has been proposed but it's unknown when (or if) construction will begin.

Hotels

• Hilton Netherland Plaza Cincinnati
• The Westin
• Millennium Hotel
• Hyatt (in nearby business district)
• The Cincinnatian Hotel
• A new hotel may be opening in the Bartlett Building but the date for its opening at this point is unknown

Office

• Fifth Third Bank Headquarters
• Macy's, Inc. Headquarters
• U.S. Bancorp
• Delta Air Lines regional headquarters and ticket office
• Great American Insurance Group Headquarters
• Carew Tower — Art Deco hi-rise containing office space

See also

• Downtown Cincinnati
• Tyler Davidson Fountain

External links

• Fountain Square (official site)
• Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation
• Features of Fountain Square
• See the original Fountain Square model at the Cincinnati Art Museum