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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
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