Water is flowing in the Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont Memorial Fountain following a major rehabilitation project.

Eric Falquero / DCist/WAMU

Huge news: The Dupont Circle fountain is flowing again just in time for spring.

By now, you’re probably used to the bone-dry fountain as a fixture in the circle — in fact, if you’re new to the city, you may never have known a time when water flowed there at all. But the National Park Service has finally switched it back on after years of much-needed repairs, including repair of the pump equipment, installation of a new vault that holds the equipment, and cleaning of the statue, National Park Service spokesperson Michael Litterst told WAMU/DCist.

That said, the work is not finished.

“Phase two will entail waterproofing the fountain base and will take place later this spring,” Litterst told WAMU/DCist. “That work will take approximately six weeks to complete, during which time the fountain will be off again.” 

The Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont Memorial Fountain, named (as you may have guessed) after Rear Admiral Samuel F. Dupont, was constructed in 1921. For years, its full functionality has fluctuated, with multiple repairs to the fountain done over the years. In 2022, NPS had to waterproof the base and pressure test the pipes, according to Washingtonian. And in 2018, someone dyed the water red (the disrespect!).

This fountain may be back in action, but the Malcolm X Park fountain is still in need of repairs. It was originally expected to be fixed this spring, but an outside contractor discovered that the pumps and motor powering the fountain were burned out and need to be replaced, according to NPS deputy superintendent Brian Joyner.

“There is [also] concern about the condition of the plumbing in the four years while the lower plaza was closed for rehabilitation,” Joyner told WAMU/DCist.

Filed Under: curiosities, dupont fountain, general assignment,