The Chevy Chase Fountain (Formerly Francis Griffith Newlands Memorial Fountain) is a historic fountain located in Chevy Chase Circle, on the border between the Chevy Chase neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C., and Chevy Chase Village, Maryland. Originally named for Francis G. Newlands, the fountain was erected in 1938. Today, it is controlled and operated by the National Park Service as part of nearby Rock Creek Park.
The fountain was originally created to honor Newlands, a U.S. senator and land developer. Newland founded The Chevy Chase Land Company in 1890 which helped establish Chevy Chase as one of the area’s first streetcar suburbs. The company played a significant role in shaping the Chevy Chase community and Greater Washington region. At that time, Newlands purchased over 1,700 acres (690 ha) of land and named it "Chevy Chase" to honor his Scottish ancestral homeland.[4] In 1902, Newland sponsored the Newlands Reclamation Act, which allowed the federal government to begin irrigation of the West. He was an outspoken white supremacist, antisemite, and segregationist who advocated the repeal of the 15th Amendment to deprive African-Americans of the right to vote.[5]
The fountain was designed by Edward W. Donn Jr. in 1933, 16 years after Newlands' death, and erected in 1938. The project was funded by Newlands' widow, who spent $12,000 (about $270,000 today) on it.[6]
The fountain, a 60-foot circle made of sandstone and concrete, sits in the center of Chevy Chase Circle. It throws a two-inch jet of water 30 feet in the air.[6]
In 1990, the fountain was refurbished the fountain to recognize the 100th anniversary of the founding of Chevy Chase. The fountain was rededicated and recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
In 2023, the fountain was officially renamed to the Chevy Chase Fountain following efforts to address concerns about the legacy of Francis G. Newlands, a U.S. senator whose policies and views promoted racial segregation and discriminatory practices. Newlands, who founded the Chevy Chase Land Company, advocated for restrictive covenants that prevented African Americans and Jewish people from purchasing property in the Chevy Chase area during the early 1900s. Several local officials, community advocates, and organizations such as the Chevy Chase Land Company, the Chevy Chase Historical Society and the Chevy Chase Circle Foundation played a significant role in removing Senator Newlands memorial from the Chevy Chase Circle.
In December 2014, the Chevy Chase Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) considered a proposal to rename the fountain due to Newlands' white supremacist views. On December 8, the Historic Chevy Chase DC Board voted to support changing the name to Chevy Chase Fountain; a report chronicled the debate.[8] The descendants of Newlands opposed the renaming.[4] The ANC voted 4-2 (1 abstention) to table the motion and consider it later.[9]
A bronze plaque at the fountain contained an inscription reading "His Statesmanship Held True Regard For The Interests Of All Men." In 2020, the ANC voted to have the plaque removed.[10] In 2020, the ANC voted to have the plaque removed. In 2020, amid national conversations about racial equity, the Chevy Chase Land Company publicly supported the renaming.
On February 23, 2021, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., introduced a bill to require the National Park Service to rename the fountain. Designated H.R. 1256 and named the Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act, it was referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands of the House Natural Resources Committee on March 23, 2021.[11] On April 19, 2022, the Montgomery County Council adopted a resolution proclaiming its support for the bill.[12]
In 2023, the fountain was renamed the Chevy Chase Fountain. The decision to rename the fountain was part of a broader initiative to promote inclusivity and acknowledge past injustices.