Longwood Gardens - The Pump House

Wonder how all that gravity-defying fountain water gets up in the air at Longwood Gardens? Say hello to the pump house, located on the west side of the long service building immediately south of the main fountain garden. While visitors aren't allowed inside, one can peer into the mirrored window panes and see (and hear) these amazing pumps whirring within. There's a sign in one pane which if you're ambitious you can read here - just be ready to hit pause about 20 seconds into play. In case you're lazy like me, it says: "The Pump House - The Main Fountain Garden, completed in 1931, still uses the original pumps installed by Mr. du Pont. There are three main supply pumps which recirculate up to 4,000 gallons each per minute from the pear-shaped lake at the base of the waterfall. Typically, only two pumps are used leaving the third as a backup. Thirteen of the fifteen smaller display pumps located within this pump house are used during fountain shows. Their combined 610 horsepower supplies approximately 10,000 gallons of water per minute." Next up, a walk toward the chimes tower where the afore-mentioned waterfall is.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Longwood
• Gardens
• drinking
• fountain
• pump
• house
• chimes
• tower
• waterfall
• TwoBube
• RKP
• landmark
• nature