Central Park Landmarks
Cherry Hill Fountain Pedicab Tour in Central Park
Cherry Hill Fountain is a Victorian fountain at the center of a carriage concourse on the shore of the Lake, near Bow Bridge. It was designed by Jacob Wrey Mould, and it sits at the top of Cherry Hill, named for the cherry trees that bloom there each spring.
Photo: Charles Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source
Quick facts
- Where
- At the top of Cherry Hill, mid-park near 72nd Street, overlooking the Lake
- Designer
- Jacob Wrey Mould
- Style
- Victorian
- Original purpose
- a drinking fountain for horses
- Materials
- a stone base, a granite and tile base and a bluestone basin
- Named for
- Cherry Hill, the landscape it sits on
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History
Cherry Hill was a resting place for visitors in horse-drawn carriages, who stopped at the concourse to water their horses and enjoy the view over the Lake. Mould designed the fountain as an elaborate piece, but only the stone base and basin were finished originally. Water spills from a saucer onto a granite and tile base and into the bluestone basin.
By the late twentieth century the concourse had long been used as a parking lot. In 1981 the Conservancy restored the concourse, repaired the fountain and added the bird cups and lamp finial Mould had designed. The finial has small saucers for birds and a light fixture with eight globes. The concourse was rebuilt in 2012, leveling its three tiers, adding a permeable surface and making the Lake views its main feature. A ribbon-cutting on June 26, 2012 marked the last major piece of the Conservancy's five-year Lake restoration.
The Conservancy notes that the fountain is often mistaken for the one in the opening credits of the TV show Friends. That fountain was filmed on a Los Angeles studio set.
What to look for
- The bird saucers and globe lamps at the top
- The granite and bluestone base
- Views across the Lake, with boats on the water
- Yoshino cherry trees in bloom in spring
Visiting Cherry Hill Fountain
Cherry Hill Fountain is a short walk from Bow Bridge and Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. There are no restrooms at the fountain. Cherry blossom timing varies from year to year.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed Cherry Hill Fountain?
Jacob Wrey Mould.
What was Cherry Hill Fountain originally for?
It was a drinking fountain for horses pulling carriages around the park.
Is this the fountain from the TV show Friends?
No. The Friends fountain was filmed on a Los Angeles studio set.
Where is Cherry Hill Fountain in Central Park?
At the top of Cherry Hill, mid-park near 72nd Street, overlooking the Lake.
Sources
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