Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain

The Columbus Memorial fountain is situated directly in front of Union Station. This marble fountain was constructed in 1912 by Lorado Taft and is dedicated to Portuguese sailer and discoverer of the New World, Christopher Columbus.

The monument is a two basin fountain flanked by resting lions and backed by three flag poles hoisting American Poles. The centre shaft features Christopher Columbus and is topped by a globe.

In the end, it is an interesting memorial and is worth having look if you intend to be at Union Station rail station. However, in a city filled with impressive statues and memorials, this one feels like a low priority unless you have plenty of time in the DC.

Tip: If you like monuments, first make sure you allocate plenty of time for The Mall where you will certainly get...

Did you know a different fountain would have been here?

Three days with parades, concerts and fireworks and a gathering tens of thousands of people happened after the unveiling of this sculpture in 1912.

The government in 1906 planned a different fountain but after lobbying by a Christian group called the Knight of Columbus, a competition started where the second and third best designers would get $500 each while the first prize would...

The Columbus Memorial is often overlooked at Union Station, Washington, DC. When it was errected in 1912 to noted the discovery of the New Word.

Christopher Columbus is easy to recognize. Below him respresents the prowl of his ship. The winged woman respresents the the figure Discovery. The man on the right respresents the Old World (Europe) and the man on the right is the New World (native American). The memorial is guarded...