University Of Texas At Austin Fountain Ranked Among 'Most Picturesque'

AUSTIN, TX -- The University of Texas at Austin has ranked high in a compilation of the 15 Most Picturesque College Fountains released Thursday.

Yes, there is such a list. Austin-based LawnStarter-- a company that helps people find, schedule, pay for and manage lawn care services -- has compiled the list, ranking UT Austin's fountain sixth.

LawnStarter officials explain why they like the local aquatic feature at UT Austin, dubbed the Littlefield Fountain: "The fountain, a monument to University of Texas students and alumni who died in World War I, features Army and Navy soldiers on each side, with the goddess Columbia in the center, representing the concept of liberty."

The fountain features an inscription in Latin, translating to: “Short life hath been given by Nature unto man; but the remembrance of a life laid down in a good cause endureth forever.”

The fountain was sculpted by Italian-born artist Pompeo Coppini, the company noted. And what a backdrop: "The iconic UT Tower stands behind the fountain, adding to the Kodak-moment status of this scene," officials said.

"We chose the following fountains at four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. based on their eye-catching designs, their picturesque nature or both," LawnStarter officials said. The other college fountains making the list -- the top five -- are:

• University of Washington Seattle, WA Drumheller Fountain;
• Ithaca College Ithaca, NY Dillingham Center Fountains;
• Indiana University Bloomington, IN Showalter Fountain;
• Occidental College Los Angeles, CA Gilman Fountain;
• Florida Southern College Lakeland, FL Water Dome.

Two other Texas universities had boast-worthy fountains: Texas Christian University and the University of Houston.

Ranked 10th most beautiful was the Frog Fountain at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. The university's mascot is the horned frog that is native to Texas.

"A focal point of the campus, Frog Fountain 'features four stylized lotus leaves, a motif chosen because of the historic association of the lotus with education,' ” LawnStarter officials said, referencing a description provided by Texas Christian University.

The University of Houston made the list, squeaking into the 15th rank with its Cullen Family Plaza Fountain.

“Passing by the expansive Cullen Family Plaza Fountain in front of the wonderfully art deco Ezekiel W. Cullen Building can be a delightful and calming experience,” reads a CultureMap Houston description of the fountain. Built in 1972, the fountain made the list despite ongoing repairs being made to it, LawnStarter officials noted.

Ranked 7th through 15th most beautiful college fountains were:

• Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Legacy Fountain;
• Furman University Greenville, SC Chapel Fountains;
• University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Fulbright Peace Fountain;
• Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Frog Fountain;
• Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Engineering Fountain;
• University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Chi Omega Fountain;
• Bethany College Bethany, WV Gresham Garden Fountain;
• Regent University Virginia Beach, VA Regent Fountain;
• University of Houston Houston, TX Cullen Family Plaza Fountain.

>>> Photo above courtesy of LawnStarter; photo within text via University of Texas at Austin