The Wyandotte County Museum will celebrate Fountain Day with an event at 11 a.m. today, April 9, at the museum, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.
According to David Hartman, curator at the museum, a fountain that formerly was installed at the intersection of 4th and Minnesota in 1904 in Kansas City, Kansas, will be the focal point of the event.
The fountain’s purpose then was to provide water for horses. At that time, horses drank out of the top of the fountain, while cats and dogs could drink out of the bottom, he said.
When cars became popular, and the need declined for the fountain, it was moved to 18th and Parallel, where it was a monument for a number of years, Hartman said.
When that intersection was redone, the fountain was donated to the Wyandotte County Museum in 1967, he said.
The fountain was refurbished at the museum, but later, water lines were cut. This horse trough fountain will be turned back on today, after being off for about 10 years, Hartman said.
Hartman said this is the only public fountain in Wyandotte County. Others may be located at hotels or The Legends, but they are privately owned, he added.
The event today will be open to the public and light refreshments will be provided.