It is one of the largest fountains in the World and it signifies the start of Summer in the Windy City! Buckingham Fountain will turn on this weekend, here are the details of the celebration, and some things you probably didn't know about the historic fountain.

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I saw this article from NBC Chicago that talks about Buckingham Fountain in Chicago getting ready to turn on for the season this Saturday, May 13th, and if you don't know that really is the official start of Summer in Chicago. The event of turning on the fountain has become so big it is now sponsored by Com Ed and there is a whole party built around the event in Grant Park called Switch On Summer, for more details click here!

If you don't know Buckingham Fountain in Chicago is one of the largest and most iconic fountains in the world, here is a picture...

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According to Choosechicago.com...

"The design was inspired by one of the ornate fountains at the Palace of Versailles in France, built for Louis XV. It just happens to be double the size of the original, making it one of the largest fountains in the world. The size is meant to symbolize the enormity of nearby Lake Michigan and uses as much as 15,000 gallons of water per minute...don’t miss the hourly, 20-minute water show featuring the fountain’s center jet shooting water 150 feet into the air. The fountain is active from May through mid-October."

Buckingham Fountain was the Bean before the Bean in Chicago, it use to be if you want to show you were in Chicago you'd take a photo or video with Buckingham Fountain. It perfectly connects downtown Chicago to its iconic lakefront and can be a way to cool off on a hot summer day. Next time you head to Chicago in the summer walk Grant Park and get a selfie with Buckingham Fountain, and leave the Bean for the real tourists...

Here are shots from the greatest views in state of Illinois

 

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