Mill Creek Park Fountain

Mill Creek Park fountain (formerly known as the J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain) was brought from New York to Kansas City in 1951 by the Nichols family and is now one of the 48 city-owned fountains. The ornate fountain was designed and cast in France in 1910 for New York financier and telegraph mogul Clarence Mackay who was also a leading collector of fine art and Renaissance armor. The cast bronze fountain features four horsemen, representing the world’s four mightiest rivers, surrounded by four smaller sculptures of children playing on fish. One of these small fish sculptures had been sold prior to the demolition of Mackay's estate in 1947, so a replica of the fish was commissioned so that the fountain would match its original appearance when it arrived in Kansas City. The fountain was refurbished, installed, and dedicated to J. C. Nichols in 1960. The missing fish was eventually found and installed in a 2014 renovation. In recent years, city leaders have begun a process of recognizing the influence of J.C. Nichols in shaping the city in both positive and negative ways, including his use of racially restrictive covenants to bar African American and Jewish residents from his residential and commercial developments. In an effort to show that Kansas City parks are open to all, city leaders voted unanimously to rename the fountain on June 30, 2020.

Mill Creek Park fountain (formerly J. C. Nichols Memorial Fountain) was designed in 1910 in France by sculptor Henri-Léon Gréber for New York millionaire Clarence H. Mackay. The cast bronze fountain features four heroic horsemen representing the world’s four mightiest rivers: the Mississippi, Volga, Seine, and Rhine. Surrounding the horsemen are four smaller figures of children playing on fish, a common feature in fountain design at that time. 

Clarence H. Mackay (1874-1938) was a key figure in the development of the international telegraph and heir to his father's empire which was built from profits mining silver. Mackay completed the three-story, 80,000 square foot Renaissance-style chateau, Harbor Hill, in 1902. Resting along Long Island’s Gold Coast, Harbor Hill cost more than $781 million and was the site of lavish parties, including a celebration of aviator Charles Lindbergh after his transatlantic flight in 1927. Mackay had collections of fine art and Renaissance-era armor and held back no expense in landscaping his marvelous estate. In 1910, Mackay commissioned Gréber and Harbor Hill became home to the fountain, centered amongst the mansion's grandiose garden. It is thought that this mansion gave rise to the famous novel, The Great Gatsby. Mackay fell victim to the Wall Street crash in 1929 and was forced to sell his collections. Following his passing, the bank foreclosed on the estate in 1940 and the remnants of the property were subject to vandalism before the demolition of the mansion in 1947.

The equestrian fountain outside the former mansion was purchased with contributions from the Nichols family, the city, and fundraising efforts which raised over $50,000 in private donations. Mackay’s fountain was brought to Kansas City in 1951 by Miller Nichols, son of real estate and Country Club Plaza developer J. C. Nichols. Due to its condition, the fountain needed to be refurbished. Artist Herman Frederick Simon was hired and, in addition, created a replica of one of the fish figures, which had been missing prior to the purchase. Resting on the east side of the Country Club Plaza in Mill Creek Park, the fountain was installed and dedicated to J. C. Nichols in 1960. 

The Nichols family endowed the fountain to the City of Kansas City, now one of 48 city-owned fountains. Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation funded a large portion of the renovation of J. C. Nichols fountain in 2014, which included removing the sculptures and equipment for cleaning and replacing in some cases. An unexpected piece was also replaced after a New York family treasure was discovered in 2008. The Singer family had purchased a small statue of children playing on a fish from the Mackay estate in 1947, without ever knowing the fate of the others. The “fourth fish” was then purchased by the City of Kansas City in 2010 and replaced the replica in the 2014 renovation. The replica now rests nearby on a concrete pedestal accompanied by a plaque describing its history. Due to increased awareness of J. C. Nichols' connection to restrictive covenants that barred African Americans and Jewish residents from buying or renting property, and after months of debate from community leaders, the Board of Parks and Recreation voted unanimously on June 30, 2020, to rename the fountain. With the support of the Nichols family, the fountain and nearby parkway now bears the name Mill Creek. 

One can see the fountains running from Fountain Day, the second Tuesday in April when all of the City fountains are brought back life through October.

Spencer, Laura. The Missing Piece Of The J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain Returns, KCUR. December 3rd 2014. Accessed November 22nd 2021. https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2014-12-03/the-missing-piece-of-the-j-c-nichols-memorial-fountain-returns.

Mill Creek Park fountain, City of Fountains. Accessed November 22nd 2021. https://cityoffountains.org/j-c-nichols-memorial-fountain/.

City of Fountains Foundation, Kansas City Parks and Recreation. Accessed November 22nd 2021. https://kcparks.org/about-fountains/city-of-fountains-foundation/.

Meredith, Mark. Harbor Hill, House Histree. August 7th 2020. Accessed November 22nd 2021. https://househistree.com/houses/harbor-hill.

midtownkcposter. Plaza fountain leaves for renovation, Midtown KC Post. December 4th 2014. Accessed November 22nd 2021. http://midtownkcpost.com/plaza-fountain-leaves-renovation/.

Mahoney, Michael. Kansas City Parks Board swiftly votes to remove J.C. Nichols name from fountain, parkway, KMBC News. June 30th 2020. Accessed November 22nd 2021. https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-parks-board-swiftly-votes-to-remove-jc-nichols-name-from-fountain-parkway/33014877#.