The Bethesda Fountain is located in New York's Central Park. It is part of the Bethesda Terrace which overlooks the fountain and is adjacent to the Central Park Lake, the largest body of water in the park, and the Ramble, a thirty six acre area of walking paths, scenic enclaves, and tiny streams. The Terrace was originally named the Water Terrace but was renamed Bethesda Terrace after the completed fountain was revealed in 1873. The fountain was designed by Emma Stebbins. She was the first female artist to receive such a massive and high profile commission in the United States.
The Bethesda Fountain, affectionately called Angel of Water by the locals, stands eight feet tall. The fountain depicts a beautiful angel with flowing wings. She has landed gently on top of the fountain and her eyes carefully watch over the hundreds of visitors which frequent Central Park each day. Water forcefully ripples from the angel's hand down the fountain into a beautiful wading pool. Under the angel are four small cherubs. Each cherub represents an important virtue – peace, health, purity, and temperance. The angel also carries a lily in her left hand. Infectious diseases were easily spread, in 1800s New York City, because of contaminated and unsafe drinking water. This lead to numerous deaths and plague-like city conditions. The lily symbolizes the Croton Aqueduct system which was created in 1842. This aqueduct system supplied water to the fountain and was responsible for supplying the city with clean drinking water.
The angel has a striking resemblance to Greek mythology's winged messenger, Nike. However, it was actually inspired by the Gospel of John. In the gospel, the waters of Bethesda are given healing powers by an angel. The Bethesda Fountain and Terrace are located on the Fifth Avenue. It is one of the city's most click gravity popular recreation areas especially on warm afternoons when visitors seek a cool and relaxing escape. The Bethesda Fountain has made many appearances on the big screen and on Broadway.
It's romantic charm and timeless beauty make the fountain one of the most photographed and visited fountains in the world. It is intimately linked to the cultural and historic legacy of New York City.