Construction on the Thompson Elk Fountain is underway

In recent years, the Portland Water Bureau has been working to repair the historic Thompson Elk Fountain and return the iconic statue to its original location on SW Main Street. In 2020, the bronze Elk statue-one of 20+ monuments in the City of Portland's public art collection-was removed from its perch after fires set in its base posed risk of toppling the structure. Then in July of that year, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) removed the statue from its perch and salvaged the remaining undamaged stonework. Repairs to the Elk statue itself are now complete.

We're excited to share that construction on the Thompson Elk Fountain began today, July 7, 2025! The Portland Water Bureau reports that crews will set up equipment and fencing around the area first, followed by the removal of the fountain base and boulders. Later this summer, the team will dig a trench for a new stainless-steel vault that will be installed below the fountain's base. Also on the horizon, crews will prepare the site for the installation of plumbing and electric for a recirculating water pump-which could save more than 6.8 million gallons of water per year.

Originally a gift to the City of Portland by former Mayor David P. Thompson, the founder and director of the Oregon Humane Society, Thompson's vision for the sculpture was to provide an accessible watering place for "bird, beast, and human." He commissioned artist Roland Perry to create the sculpture and placed it in a site that was a former feeding ground for elk that wandered down from the city's west hills. Installed in 1900, the Elk is the second oldest sculpture located in the Portland metropolitan area.

The Elk statue is part of the City of Portland's public art collection, consisting of more 1,700 pieces, which is managed by the Office of Arts & Culture, while construction on the site of the Elk is part of the Portland Water Bureau's portfolio of projects. For more details on the Thomson Elk Fountain restoration project, including traffic impacts, what to expect during construction, the process for restoring historic granite, and more, visit the Portland Water Bureau's website.

Visit the Portland Water Bureau's Thompson Elk Fountain project page