NPS Columbus Fountain restoration plan targets Union Station

NPS Columbus Fountain restoration is now on the table for the landmark just outside Washington, D.C.’s Union Station—an Amtrak Union Station landmark that many rail travelers walk past on their way to and from the terminal.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Amtrak has also pointed to other recent work. It said that in October it finished a $30 million program refurbishing five stations across North Dakota. Still, not every project in and around major rail hubs can be funded by Amtrak—especially when a site is owned and controlled by the federal government. The Columbus Fountain outside Union Station is one of those cases.

Procurement records reviewed by The Washington Post show the National Park Service is allocating at least $54.2 million for Washington, D.C. fountain repairs funding, covering seven sites in the city center. Included is the Columbus Circle fountain project, which the Federal Procurement Data System lists at $11.8 million.

Columbus Fountain outside Union Station: history and long closure

Also known as the Columbus Memorial, the fountain was created by American sculptor Lorado Taft to honor Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus. The monument dates to 1912, and its unveiling ran for three days, with parades, fireworks, and crowds arriving from around the world—details also reflected in the National Park Service’s Columbus Fountain entry.

Despite that celebratory start, the Columbus Fountain outside Union Station has been neglected for years. The original text says it has not been operational for two decades.

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Back in October 2025, U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging “the Department of the Interior to take immediate action to restore the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain to its original dignity and condition.” The call came soon after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reclaiming Columbus Day.

Repair scope and what the National Park Service plans to do

The NPS has not released a full, final breakdown of funding for each line item. Even so, the Federal Procurement Data System points to an $11.8 million investment for Columbus Circle—listed as the largest single allocation among the seven fountains.

An NPS spokesperson told The Washington Post that the fountains have faced outdated mechanical systems, decades of weathering, and heavy use, leading to reduced function or extended closures. The same commentary says the rehabilitation will focus on repairing and modernizing fountain systems, conserving historic stone and sculpture, and improving surrounding plazas and landscapes.

If the project moves ahead as described, Amtrak passengers and other visitors should eventually be able to see the Columbus Fountain fully operational again and restored at the front of Union Station.

Which other Washington, D.C. fountains are being repaired with NPS funds?

The seven-fountain effort spans several high-profile locations. After the $11.8 million Columbus Circle project, Rawlins Park in Foggy Bottom—two blocks west of the White House—is listed for an $11 million restoration.

The remaining projects and their listed investments are:

• Meridian Hill Park: $10.7 million
• Freedom Plaza: $9.9 million
• John Marshall Park: $4.5 million
• World War II Memorial: $3.7 million
• Korean War Veterans Memorial: $2.6 million

The work is framed as part of a wider push to improve Washington, D.C.’s appearance ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. NPS spokesperson Michael Litterst told The Washington Post the restorations fit into a broader effort to restore aging infrastructure while improving the look of some of the city’s most prominent civic landscapes ahead of the anniversary year.

Last summer, President Donald Trump said he would focus on a 12-month beautification effort for the capital and asked Congress for $2 billion. Among the initiatives he has mentioned is building a Triumphal Arch near the Lincoln Monument; in an interview with Politico, he said it had not started yet and would begin sometime in the next two months.

For now, the schedule for the Columbus Circle fountain project has not been released. Until it is, travelers will have to wait longer for a clear timeline on when the Columbus Fountain outside Union Station will be running again, even as the broader list of Washington, D.C. fountain repairs moves toward restoration ahead of 2026.

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