An artist's rendition of the Thompson Elk in downtown Portland after it goes up in 2024.
Courtesy of MIG, Inc.
Work on Portland’s beloved Thompson Elk fountain is likely to start by next fall.
The Portland City Council on Wednesday authorized spending $1.5 million on a plan to reinstall the famous elk on Southwest Main between 3rd and 4th avenues.
The statue was damaged during the racial justice protests of 2020, especially the fountain troughs, in which protesters lit fires, breaking and fracturing the stone.
The fountain was insured, but only for about $700,000. That’s much less than what’s needed for reconstruction.
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Jessica Green with the Portland Parks Foundation, a nonprofit that raises money for the parks, said they’re thrilled it’ll be among the first statues to be reinstalled.
“This one is very different. It is a fountain. And it is an animal, not a president or other historic person.”
Portlanders now have to decide what to do with other toppled statues like Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt. As people, rather than an animal, their futures are likely to be more contentious.
“This is long overdue,” said Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan. “I’m so grateful it’s an animal. Going forward, animals over people for sure, right? It’s easier on everyone’s tolerance… If you can’t get behind the elk, I don’t know what to do with you.”
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The elk fountain was built in 1900 in honor of the Oregon Humane Society. It was meant to provide fresh, gravity-fed drinking water from the Bull Run reservoir, to animals working in the city.
“I know this particular project is near and dear to each and everyone on this council, and in Portland,” said Commissioner Mingus Mapps.
The bronze artwork depicts a bull elk with impressive antlers, glancing up into Portland’s West Hills as if checking for danger.
For a long time, it was the first spot visitors coming to Portland from the west could stop to get a drink of water.