Cincinnati’s Best Known and Most Beloved Symbol
Cincinnati businessman Henry Probasco dedicated our famous fountain “To the People of Cincinnati” in memory of his business partner and brother-in-law Tyler Davidson on October 6, 1871.
Designed to rival the great fountains of Europe, the bronze and granite fountain glorifies the blessings of water. Streams of water flow from the outstretched hands of the nine-foot-tall Genius of Water, affectionately known as “The Lady.” Below her, large human figures represent water’s practical uses, and on the base, four child figures represent the pleasures of water.
The four figures around the rim were originally drinking fountains, and visitors can still drink from them. The water that flows from them is fresh, not chlorinated, water.
In the Square’s current design, the Fountain has been given a prominent, central position overlooking the Square, adjacent to ample space for seating and areas for major events.
The fountain is on from Fountain Day (the Saturday before Major League Baseball’s Opening Day) until temperatures consistently dip below freezing, typically in late November or early December. During that time, the fountain usually runs 24/7, but it may be turned off between 3 and 6 a.m. when the Square is closed.
Fountain Square 
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