William Thornton and Charlotte Crosby Kemper Memorial Fountain

Artists Lori Doolittle and Alvin Holm designed this unique downtown Kansas City fountain to resemble the ancient stone bowl which is on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The fountain was dedicated in 1999 in honor of the Kemper Family and their commitment to Kansas City. The artists added features that preserve energy as part of their effort to reflect themes of conservation, art, and technology into the design of the fountain. The artists also worked to blend aspects of the fountain to match the architecture of nearby buildings, including the Commerce Bank headquarters.

The fountain was dedicated in 1999 to honor William T. Kemper (1865-1938) and Charlotte Crosby Kemper (1866-1956). The fountain's location between Commerce Bank, a leading business established by the Kemper family, and the Kansas City Public Library, an institution led and supported by multiple generations of Kemper family members, was selected to reflect the family's commitment to both commercial and civic improvement in Kansas City.

William T. and Charlotte Crosby Kemper Memorial Fountain, Kansas City Parks and Recreation Website. Accessed June 21st 2022. https://kcparks.org/places/kemper-william-t-and-charlotte-crosby-memorial-fountain-2/.

William Thornton and Charlotte Crosby Kemper Memorial Fountain, Kansas City Public Library, Digital History. Accessed June 21st 2022. https://kchistory.org/image/william-thornton-and-charlotte-crosby-kemper-memorial-fountain.