The Henry Wollman Bloch Fountain

Choreographed water-and-light fountain at the front of Union Station, named for KC business titan Henry Wollman Bloch (co-founder of H&R Block). Built 2001 as part of the Union Station Crown Center redevelopment; 232 vertical jets perform a synchronized show throughout the day.

History

The fountain was commissioned in 2001 as part of the Union Station Kansas City redevelopment that returned the historic station (union-station) to active civic use after decades of disrepair. It is named for Henry Wollman Bloch (1922-2019), co-founder of H&R Block, who provided significant philanthropic support to the Union Station revitalization.¹

The fountain’s location — the broad apron in front of the Union Station’s south facade — makes it one of the most-trafficked civic spaces in Kansas City, with views toward downtown to the north and Crown Center to the south.

Architecture + features

• 232 vertical water jets arranged in geometric pattern across the fountain plaza
• Choreographed music-and-light programming; the fountain “performs” multiple times daily
• LED lighting integrated for evening shows
• Walk-through design — visitors can walk among the jets when the program allows (low-spray sequences)
• Pavers around the fountain incorporate names of Union Station benefactors

Current status

Operating. The fountain runs from spring through fall, typically drained for winter. Performance schedules are posted at Union Station + on union-station.org.

Cultural significance

The Henry Wollman Bloch Fountain has become a beloved interactive feature for KC families — children regularly play in the walk-through jets during summer months. It anchors the Crown Center / Union Station corridor, one of KC’s most-trafficked tourist + civic spaces.

The naming honors Henry Bloch (and his late brother Richard Bloch), who built H&R Block from a Kansas City small accounting firm into a national tax-preparation institution headquartered in KC. The Bloch philanthropic legacy across KC is significant — UMKC’s Henry W. Bloch School of Management + the Nelson-Atkins’s Bloch Building addition both bear the family name.²

Visiting

• Address: Union Station, 30 W Pershing Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108
• Best time to visit: Spring through fall; evening shows feature LED lighting
• Public access: Free; 24-hour outdoor public space
• Parking: Union Station has covered parking + Crown Center lots nearby

Sources

Footnotes

1. Union Station Kansas City — official history.. ↩

2. Nelson-Atkins Museum + UMKC — Bloch naming gifts documentation. ↩