Phyllis Brown
Detroit’s Washington Boulevard, once the heart of the city’s growth and style, had one of the most unique winter attractions in American history: the ‘Detroit Ice Fountain.’ This giant ice sculpture was formed as water continuously froze in layers throughout the cold months.
From 1890 to 1930, Washington Boulevard became the perfect spot for this amazing winter display. The fountain’s water jets kept flowing even in freezing temperatures, creating thick layers of ice.
In milder winters, the ice fountain reached about 30 feet high, but during especially cold winters, it grew as tall as 60 feet.
This massive ice fountain became a popular winter attraction in Detroit. People loved to visit and admire its natural beauty and impressive size.
One observer even described it as “a towering monument of nature’s art, breathtaking in its simplicity and elegance.”
Thanks to a series of amazing vintage photos, we can still enjoy the beauty of the Ice Fountain on Washington Boulevard—a natural and architectural wonder that once made Detroit’s winters unforgettable.
1. Ice fountain, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich, between 1900 and 1906
2. Fountain of ice, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich, between 1900 and 1910
3. Fountain of Ice, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich, c1904
4. Fountain of Ice, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich, c1904
5. Ice fountain, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich between 1910 and 1920
6. Several jets of water are allowed to play all winter, resulting in tons of crystal and massive berg of ice that at times reached heights of 30 feet or more
7. In particularly chilly years, the fountain was said to have grown as tall as 60 feet
8. Large ice sculpture forms over fountain on Michigan Avenue, with the Chinese Pavilion Cafe and Cadillac Burlesque in background
9. Fountain of ice, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich, circa 1917
10. Fountain of ice, Washington Boulevard, Detroit, Mich, circa 1917
11. Every winter, the fountain on Washington Boulevard was turned into an ice fountain
