These varied and beautiful acres in the midst of this giant metropolis are a favorite part of New York City for residents as much as for tourists. Bethseda Fountain is one of its most prominent landmarks, and some even call it the centerpiece for Central Park.

The Bethseda Fountain is a popular place to find cool refreshment on a hot, summer day. And it has a rich history of providing refreshment. The same aqueduct that fed the fountain finally provided a clean water supply to a city previously plagued by disease. The famous sculpture on top is titled Angel of the Waters and was designed to celebrate that accomplishment. 

Besides being a beautiful, refreshing stop on your tour, students might actually recognize Bethseda. Thanks to its pretty setting, it has been featured in more movies than almost any other landmark in Central Park. And that’s saying a lot – there are entire tours devoted to the movies set on location in Central Park and the landmarks that have been featured.

We don’t expect many student groups to take a tour of various US fountains, but when in the city of your choice, be sure to look up popular sites like Bethseda. People gather around them for a reason, and they are a great way to begin to get to know the city.

Photo Credit: hobbs_luton on Flickr

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