Last June, when we were in Chicago, one of the things on our to-do list for the city was to visit Buckingham Fountain. It was our first visit to Chicago in the summer season, and this iconic fountain is only in operation during the summer, so we ner had the chance to see it open before.
So one afternoon when my son had an appointment downtown, we went with him, and while he was at his appointment, my husband and I head towards Grant Park, where the fountain is located.
Grant Park is a huge park in downtown Chicago that lies on the shores of Lake Michigan, but that day we didn't want to wander in the park, we had a very specific goal. So walking along Columbus Drive, we headed straight for the part of the park where the fountain is located..


It was still daylight, but evening was approaching, and we wanted to see the fountain’s light show, which is scheduled every hour during the summer.

Looking out from the fountain area toward the city, this was the view. One of the things that impresses you about this part of the city is how spacious everything is.

We walked up to the fountain to take some close-up photos.


Buckingham Fountain was donated to the city in 1927 by a philanthropist named Kate Sturges Buckingham. It was designed by Edward H. Bennett, and the sculptures were created by the French artist Marcel Loyau. (Source https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/).


We walked around the fountain, taking photos.

And at one point, we sat down like other people, with the city as our backdrop, watching the evening fall and the changing play of light on the fountain.
It was a beautiful afternoon, and it made me want to stay there for a while, taking my time. Just watching people come and go around the fountain.


But after a while, and after taking a few more photos 😂, we decided it was time to head back.

So we walked toward the Loop, downtown, to meet up with our son.

That was our visit to the iconic Buckingham Fountain, which I finally got to see lit up and open. Third time’s the charm, as the saying goes, 😆.
This is also my post for this week's #wednesdaywalk challenge hosted by @tattoodjay
Thank you for reading.
All images and writing are my own unless otherwise stated.
© CoquiCoin
August 5, 2026









