Bea Evenson Fountain — Attraction in San Diego

The Bea Evenson Fountain, located in Balboa Park, is a beautiful and tranquil landmark dedicated to the memory of Bea Evenson, a prominent philanthropist and civic leader in San Diego. Installed in 1965, the fountain was a gift from her husband, local businessman and philanthropist C. Arnholt Smith, in recognition of her contributions to the city and the arts.

Designed by artist Donal Hord, the fountain features a striking modernist design, with a series of cascading water features and a distinctive, sculptural basin. The flowing water creates a peaceful and calming atmosphere, making it a popular spot for visitors to relax and reflect. Situated near the entrance to the San Diego Natural History Museum, the Bea Evenson Fountain adds to the park’s collection of public art and remains a lasting tribute to a woman whose impact on the community is...

The fountain is one of the Park's defining landmarks. Sitting at the terminus of El Prado between the Natural History Museum and the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, the fountain serves many different groups. The water show and lights during the various seasonal settings are fun to sit and watch.

Street musicians and buskers set up and sitting to listen to the live music is always nice. Kids love playing in the fountain during the summer and the mist off the fountain is nice in the heat.

We used to get kicked out a lot for skateboarding in the area, so there is usually quite a few police offers roaming around the park. They seem to congregate at this natural end point. So keep it...

It's a great place to sit and read a book. It also makes a great place for a photoshoot!

It's a very popular spot in the park to visit. (Fair warning, not introvert friendly!)

And you might be able to catch musicians and artists livening up the park (which is my favorite part of the park)!

Unfortunately, as much as I love this place, I had to give it 3 stars because the rangers are constantly messing with these musicians and artists instead of maintaining the cleanliness of the bathrooms in the park (shame on them! 😤)

(The picture I included was a painting an artist made of...