Columbus Fountain
Park Monument honoring Christopher Columbus near Union Station
A Beaux-Arts fountain on Columbus Circle outside Union Station; visited for its sculpture, nearby historic architecture and as a photo stop while touring the Capitol area.
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The Columbus Fountain is a public fountain and sculptural memorial located in Columbus Circle immediately in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C. It commemorates Christopher Columbus and serves as a civic landmark at the station entrance.
The work consists of a central figurative sculpture atop a fountain basin with accompanying allegorical figures and ornamentation, and it is frequently photographed by visitors arriving at or departing from Union Station. The site functions as a visible plaza and meeting point on the station forecourt.
The monument was commissioned and installed as a civic memorial and forms part of the city’s early 20th-century program of public sculpture. It is maintained as outdoor public art within the urban streetscape.
The fountain sits on the Massachusetts Avenue/First Street NE traffic circle at Union Station, on the edge of the Capitol Hill neighborhood and close to downtown Washington.
- Access: The fountain and sculpture are directly adjacent to the plaza and entrance of Union Station, making it easy to visit on foot from the station and the Union Station Metro stop.
How to Get to Columbus Fountain #
Located at Columbus Circle adjacent to Union Station in Washington, D.C. Union Station is served by the Metro (Red Line), Amtrak, MARC and VRE trains; the circle is an easy walk from the station exits.
Tips for Visiting Columbus Fountain #
- Visit early morning for the best light on the statuary and fewer stroller traffic on the National Mall sidewalks.
- Combine a visit with nearby sites (the National Archives and Judiciary Square) to make the short trip efficient.
- Notice the little human details: pigeons on the fountain edge, engraved names and the worn bronze where hands have rested for decades.
Best Time to Visit Columbus Fountain #
Spring and fall provide the most comfortable weather for walking around the Mall; the fountain itself is photogenic year-round.
Weather & Climate near Columbus Fountain #
Columbus Fountain's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1056 mm/year), wettest in May, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (80 mm).
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February
February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (70 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 2°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).
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May
May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (105 mm).
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June
June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 17°C. Regular rainfall (88 mm).
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).
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August
August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm).
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September
September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 8°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (84 mm).
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December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (81 mm).
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