Crown Fountain

In a city known for its towering skyline and cutting-edge architecture, Crown Fountain stands out—not because it's tall, but because it speaks. Literally. Nestled in the heart of Chicago’s Millennium Park, this playful yet profound public art installation takes something as simple as water and transforms it into a conversation—between past and present, art and technology, strangers and locals. One moment it’s serene, with cascading waterfalls over smooth glass. The next, it’s erupting in laughter as kids run through jets of water spurting from a giant digital face.

Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and unveiled in July 2004, Crown Fountain is as much an emotional experience as it is a visual spectacle. It doesn’t just sit quietly in the city—it interacts, surprises, and invites you in. Whether you're a wide-eyed visitor or a lifelong Chicagoan, the fountain has a way of drawing you back, again and again.

What to Know

Crown Fountain isn’t your typical water feature. Made up of two 50-foot glass block towers facing each other across a long reflecting pool, it fuses architecture, video art, and the sounds of joyful chaos into one living, breathing piece of public art. Water cascades down the sides of each tower year-round, but during warmer months, it’s what happens between the two that truly brings the space to life.

The LED screens embedded inside the towers showcase a rotating collection of faces of Chicago—real residents from all walks of life—who appear to watch the world with quiet smiles, blinking eyes, and the occasional playful spout of water that streams from their puckered lips. It’s part sculpture, part social mirror, part splash pad. And it’s unlike anything else in the world.

How to Get There

Crown Fountain is located in the southern section of Millennium Park, one of the most visited and beloved green spaces in the City of Chicago. The park itself is positioned between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive, right in the downtown Loop.

By Public Transit:

The CTA Red and Blue Lines stop at Monroe Station, just a few blocks away.

Buses running along Michigan Avenue also stop directly across from Millennium Park.

By Car:

Paid parking is available in nearby garages like the Millennium Park Garage, but keep in mind that this is a busy area. Walking or public transit is often the better bet.

By Foot or Bike:

If you're already exploring downtown Chicago, it’s a short and scenic walk from places like the Art Institute of Chicago or Grant Park. Crown Fountain is easily accessed via pedestrian paths and sits just a stone’s throw from Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean").

Best Time to Visit

For the full sensory experience—faces smiling, water spouting, children playing—you’ll want to visit on a warm day between late May and early September. Midday sees the most activity, especially with families and school groups using the pool measuring 232 feet long and 48 feet wide as an interactive playground.

Mornings offer a quieter, more contemplative vibe—perfect for photographers hoping to catch reflections in the black granite surface before the chaos begins. Evenings, on the other hand, add a surreal magic as the LED faces glow against the deepening dusk.

Highlights & Features

Two Glass Block Towers:

Each 50 feet tall, designed by Krueck + Sexton Architects in collaboration with Plensa, using over 1,000 glass blocks and a steel framework to create a transparent but monolithic look.

Reflecting Pool:

A sleek black granite basin between the towers creates a mirror-like surface—shallow enough for safe play, but dramatic enough for reflection (literal and emotional).

Barco LED Display System:

Each tower houses a high-tech Barco LED screen capable of showing detailed video portraits. It’s both a digital art installation and an architectural feat.

Video Portraits:

Around 1,000 Chicago residents were filmed for the project by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, creating a diverse and deeply local experience.

Waterfall Effect:

Water flows continuously down the sides of the towers, adding a soothing soundscape to the city’s hustle.

Spouting Faces:

At timed intervals, the faces "pucker" and a burst of water shoots out—a cheeky nod to traditional gargoyle fountains, reimagined for the 21st century.

Fun Facts

Not Just for Show:

Unlike many urban art pieces, Crown Fountain encourages interaction. It’s common to see kids darting through the water jets or lying in the reflecting pool on hot days. Adults, too, often can’t resist a quick dip.

The Goodman Family’s Gift:

The project was made possible in large part by a generous donation from the Goodman family, longtime supporters of the arts in Chicago.

A First of Its Kind:

Crown Fountain was among the first major public works to combine large-scale video art with architectural form and interactive water play, setting a precedent for other cities to follow.

Hidden Engineering Marvels:

Behind those glass block towers is an intricate network of stainless steel piping and custom-designed LED screens—designed to withstand both water and Chicago’s unpredictable weather.

Captured by Hedrich Blessing:

One of America’s most iconic architectural photography studios, Hedrich Blessing, documented the fountain extensively during and after its creation, helping solidify its place in modern art history.

Final Thoughts

Crown Fountain doesn’t ask you to admire it from a distance. It wants you to laugh with it, walk through it, and see yourself reflected in its waters—both literally and symbolically. In a city bursting with bold architecture and big ideas, this quiet-yet-playful corner of Millennium Park in Chicago holds its own with grace, mischief, and humanity.

It’s not just one of the top attractions in Chicago—it’s one of the few that lets you become part of the artwork. And maybe that’s what makes it unforgettable.

So next time you’re in the City of Chicago, don’t just pass by. Step in. Watch the faces. Feel the spray. And remember what it’s like to be a part of something both beautiful and fleeting—just like water itself.