Port Townsend, Washington, is located at the northeast tip of the Olympic Peninsula and has a history that stretches back to the late 19th century. While the Port Townsend Historic District is a U.S. National Historic Landmark District, the Haller Fountain might represent an even more important piece of history for the community, connecting the past to the present in a way that has made it an icon for audiences of all eras.
“In memory of early pioneers”
Donated to the city of Port Townsend “in memory of early pioneers,” the original design for the statue that defines the Haller Fountain first appeared in the Mexican exhibit at the 1893 Chicago Exhibitor. At the 1906 dedication in Port Townsend, Haller read a poem dedicated to the Greek sea nymph Galatea, which is why the piece would also become known by that same name.
Unfortunately, the community didn’t embrace the Haller Fountain in those early days or over the next few decades.. A local bar owner allegedly placed and trained trout in the pool to jump through hoops. A vehicle would eventually collide with the piece, while vandals would eventually damage the original to the point that it needed significant repairs.
By then, feelings toward the Haller Fountain had changed. A fundraising campaign that involved door-to-door campaigning and change jars in grocery stores to mold a new bronze replica was ultimately successful, leading to the creation of a new bronze casting of the original sculpture that debuted in 1993. The original can be viewed at the Jefferson Museum of Art & History.
Highlighting how feelings about the Haller Fountain have completely changed, icons of the sculpture have been utilized in various ways across the city, highlighting the direct and indirect connections between the community of the past and present.
A community landmark and icon
Featured in various guides and logos, the way that the Haller Statue has been embraced by the community is indicative of the campaign that saw the piece rescued from obscurity. That impact highlights what it can mean for a landmark to resonate with a community in ways that allow it to become something much more, creating benefits for everyone.
