Mermaid Fountain

The Mermaid Fountain was installed on the Plaza in 1930 after the J.C. Nichols Company purchased two 300 year old marble mermaids from Italy. The mermaids are situated at the outer edge of the fountain and blow into a conch shell as water streams from the shell into the center of the pool. The circular water feature and bronze figure were not added until 1968 when the pool was reshaped into its current trefoil design, replacing the original rectangular pool. “A Morning Prayer” is the bronze statue, which depicts a child kneeling in prayer, as a plaque suggests for patrons to “Say Yours and Toss a Coin” for the Children of Mercy Hospital.

The white marble mermaids featured in this large fountain were reportedly 300 years old when purchased in Italy by the J.C. Nichols Company. Originally installed on the Plaza in 1930, the mermaids were featured on the sides of a rectangular shaped pool, surrounded by landscaped trees and flowers. In 1968, the fountain was renovated and it’s current trefoil-shaped pool replaced the rectangular pool. 

The two mermaids are positioned resting on their side, each blowing into a conch shell as water streams from the shell toward the center of the pool. At the same time the pool was reconfigured, a circular water feature was added with a small bronze sculpture featured in the center of the ring. The sculpture is named “A Morning Prayer” as it depicts a child kneeling in prayer. A plaque at the front of the fountain states, ““A Morning Prayer” for the Children at Mercy Hospital. Say Yours and Toss a Coin”. 

The artist are unknown for both the mermaids and "A Morning Prayer".

Mermaid Fountain, City of Fountains. Accessed January 18th 2022. https://cityoffountains.org/mermaid-fountain/.