Cascading Waterfall

Did You Know?

• The walkways surrounding the waterfall feature the first use of exposed aggregate concrete anywhere in the world.
• Water first flowed through the cascade in 1932.

Description

The fountain is primarily made of concrete. Water flows from two terrace fountains and reappears as three columns of water and two shell spills in five niches located in the face of the terrace retaining wall. From the niches, water moves through two basins and two spout overflows into thirteen graduated cascade basins that empty into large pools. The pools contain four grotesque spouting masks, four urn jets, two dolphin sprays, and eight white water jets. The 16th Street side has additional niches and shell overflows; a recirculation room sits in the control room under the great wall. Landscaping and walkways flank the fountain on both sides.

Condition

A 1994 survey by Save Outdoor Sculpture indicated treatment was needed. A broken pump stopped the fountains in 2016. In 2017, local residents formed a community group to report non-operation to the National Park Service. The following year, WAMU reported leaks in the water supply piping. Contractors began repairs but stopped upon discovering the pipe was cast iron. The National Park Service planned to replace 90 feet of piping. As of 2016, half of Meridian Hill Park's maintenance funding went to the fountains. The fountain was restored to working condition as part of a broader infrastructure renewal effort during the 250th year of independence celebration of the USA.