Fountain of Time is a sculpture by Lorado Taft, measuring 126 feet 10 inches (38.66 m) in length, at the western edge of the Midway Plaisance within Washington Park in Chicago's South Side. Inspired by Henry Austin Dobson's "Paradox of Time" and with its 100 figures passing before Father Time, Time is a monument to the first 100 years of peace between the United States and Great Britain, resulting from the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The fountain began running in 1920 and was dedicated in 1922. It contributes to the National Register of Historic Places Washington Park Historic District. Part of a larger beautification plan for the Midway Plaisance, Time was constructed from a new type of molded, steel-reinforced concrete that was claimed to be more durable and cheaper than alternatives, making it the first of any kind of finished works of art made of concrete. Before Millennium Park, it was considered the most important installation in the Chicago Park District. Time is one of several Chicago works funded by Benjamin Ferguson's trust fund. During the late 1990s and early 21st century it underwent repairs that corrected many of the problems caused by earlier restorations.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Time

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1763:

Catherine II of Russia endorsed educator Ivan Betskoy's plans for the Moscow Orphanage , an ambitious, state-run, experimental Russian Enlightenment project to educate orphans into ideal citizens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_Orphanage

1804:

German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding discovered one of the largest main belt asteroids, naming it Juno after the Roman goddess. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_Juno

1920:

The Fountain of Time opened as a tribute to the 100 years of peace between the United States and Great Britain following the Treaty of Ghent. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Time

1939:

Nazi Germany invaded Poland at Wieluń and Westerplatte, starting World War II in Europe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Poland_%281939%29

1983:

Soviet jet interceptors shot down the civilian airliner Korean Air Lines Flight 007 near Sakhalin Island in the North Pacific, killing all 246 passengers and 23 crew on board. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Lines_Flight_007

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

swelter (v): 1. To suffer terribly from intense heat. 2. To perspire greatly from heat http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/swelter

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof. Lev. XXV X

Inscription on the --w:Liberty Bell http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/w%3ALiberty_Bell