The Bacchus Fountain (Plaza)

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A bronze Bacchus figure atop a Plaza fountain basin — one of the original J.C. Nichols Italian imports installed in the Plaza’s first decade (mid-1920s). Mythologically themed (Bacchus, Roman god of wine and revelry), the fountain reflects Nichols’s deliberate European-piazza aesthetic.

History

The Bacchus Fountain was installed at the Country Club Plaza in the mid-1920s — within the first few years after the Plaza’s 1922 opening. J.C. Nichols (jc-nichols) imported the bronze figure from Italy as part of his ongoing effort to populate the Plaza with authentic European sculpture.¹

Architecture + materials

Cast bronze Bacchus figure — classical depiction of the Roman god of wine, holding a grape cluster or wine cup. The figure sits atop a limestone basin with cascading water elements.

Current status

Operating, with seasonal off-period in winter.

Cultural significance

The Bacchus Fountain represents the Plaza’s mythological-classical theme — a parallel to the Neptune Fountain (sea/mythology), the Mermaid Fountain (water/mythology), and other classically-themed pieces across the district. Together these establish the European-piazza vocabulary Nichols sought.

Visiting

Address: Country Club Plaza, near 47th + Wyandotte
Best time to visit: Spring through fall

Sources

Country Club Plaza Inc. — Plaza fountains historical guide.. ↩