Dunsmuir Fountain - Dunsmuir, California
Posted by: Volcanoguy
N 41° 13.483 W 122° 16.612
10T E 560609 N 4563955
The 1888 Dunsmuir Fountain in Dunsmuir, California.
Waymark Code: WMFRK2
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 11/23/2012
Views: 1
In August 1886, the Southern Pacific Railroad established a station which was named for the wealthy Dunsmuir family who owned the Wellington Collieries in British Columbia. In January 1887, the station was move north about a mile the settlement of Pusher where an engine house and turntable were under construction. The name Pusher was dropped in favor of Dunsmuir. In June 1888, Robert or Alexander Dunsmuir [stories differ (
visit link) ] came through Dunsmuir and promised to provide the town with a fountain. In October 1888, a multi-tiered iron fountain arrived and was installed in a small park near the railroad station [1920's photo: (
visit link) ]. On the fountain there is a small plaque: “Presented by Alexander Dunsmuir, of the Wellington Collieries, British Columbia”.
The fountain became a big hit with travelers & tourists, as trains stopped in Dunsmuir letting passengers off to enjoy a visit. In the early 1970’s, with the reduction in rail travel visitation to the fountain was also reduced so the fountain moved to the current location at the entrance to the Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens.