The Benson Bubblers are iconic four-bowl bronze drinking fountains found throughout downtown Portland, Oregon. They have become one of the city’s most recognizable symbols of civic pride and public generosity.
The Gift of Simon Benson
The fountains were donated to the city in 1912 by Simon Benson, an immigrant from Norway who came to this country at the age of 16. He became a successful businessman and philanthropist who cared deeply about the welfare of Portland’s people. Over time, two stories have been told about why Benson decided to give the city its famous drinking fountains:
- He was moved after seeing a thirsty young girl crying during a Fourth of July parade. Moved by her situation, he promised that no one in Portland should ever go thirsty again.
- Benson went into a saloon and asked for a drink of water. The saloon refused to give him water unless he bought a beer. He bought the beer, poured it on the floor, and drank the water!
Whether one story or both are true, they show Benson’s compassion and his belief that small acts of generosity can make a lasting difference.
In 1912 he donated $10,000 to fund the design and installation of public drinking fountains. Architect A.E. Doyle was commissioned to design the 20 fountains.
A Portland Icon
When first installed, 20 fountains were placed throughout downtown Portland, mostly near busy streets and workplaces. Currently, the Portland Water Bureau maintains 52 four-bowl Benson Bubbler fountains and 74 one-bowl variations throughout the city.
Despite their appearance, the single-bowl fountains are not Benson Bubblers. In fact, in the 1970s, the Benson family asked that the installation of the four-bowl fountains be limited to certain downtown boundaries so as not to diminish their uniqueness.
A few replicas have been placed in other locations — including one gifted to Portland’s sister city, Sapporo, Japan.
Legacy
More than a century later, the Benson Bubblers still flow daily, providing water to residents and visitors alike. Simon Benson’s gift continues to remind Portlanders of the power of kindness and community spirit.
Simon Benson also donated Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge to Portland because of its lasting beauty. He also built the Benson Hotel and donated money to
build Benson High School. Simon Benson was known to have said “No one has the right to die and not leave something to the public and for the public good.”
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Suggested Discussion:
Before the days when people carried water bottles with them, how would you get a drink of water?
Have you ever been thirsty and had a drink from a public water fountain?
Do you think he was a good citizen?
Vocabulary: philanthropist, bubbler
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State Education Standards:
Social Studies 3.11. Describe how individuals, groups, events and developments have shaped the communities and regions. Multicultural Studies, Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.19 Analyze different ways that people, other living things, and the environment might be affected by an event, issue, or problem. Social Science AnalysiNote: For more information on the life of Simon Benson see the Biography section of the Guidebook.