SW Main between SW 3rd and 4th Streets
The Thompson Elk Fountain was built in 1900 and named for its benefactor, David P. Thompson, who served as Portland’s mayor from 1879 to 1882. A founding director of the Oregon Humane Society, Thompson wanted to pay homage to the wildlife that once roamed the city. In 1899, inspired by Portland’s first work of public art, Skidmore Fountain, he proposed to the Mayor and City Council a “monument to Oregon Humane Society” to be “of benefit to humanity and the dumb animals . . .”The bronze elk—which stands 9 feet tall and weighs 3,000 pounds—was sculpted by Roland Hinton Perry. The granite base and water-spouting fountain were designed and built by H. G. Wright.
The Thompson Elk Fountain has long been a community gathering place and a hub of activism for Portlanders. People have gathered at the fountain for generations not only to appreciate the artistry of the City’s second-oldest piece of public art but also to exercise free speech and engage in protest. In restoring the fountain, the City acknowledges this history and works to promote healing and inclusion.
An archival photo of a horse drinking from the Thompson Elk Fountain.
Learn more about the history of the Thompson Elk Fountain.
Source: https://www.portland.gov/water/improvements/construction/thompson-elk-fountain-restoration-project