Santa Barbara’s Dolphin Fountain Celebrates 30 Years
The Santa Barbara Dolphin Fountain has celebrated its 30th anniversary with a ceremony that brought Chumash tribal members, local leaders, and the original artist Bud Bottoms back together.
“Well the word for dolphin in Chumash is alolk’oy and that means to go around, to protect and go in peace,” said Bottoms. “The dolphins go in every ocean and they go around and bring joy to people. They go in peace and I thought ‘that’s a great message. ‘ ”
Bottoms was pleased to have the Chumash elders and many children present for a special ceremony. they sang several traditional songs. The event had both the Coastal Band and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians present.
“This has so many important connections to Santa Barbara,” said Deborah Schwartz with Santa Barbara Beautiful. “To the ocean, which of course has a special meaning to the Chumash people. But it is an integral part of what makes Santa Barbara Beautiful and iconic.”
The fountain no longer has water due to the drought, and instead it’s been decorated with coastal and Channel Islands plantings. The waterfront department will maintain it. The tribal environmental staff has been part of the design and look involving the plants over the last month.
The fountain is a symbol in many ways in Santa Barbara and as a poster from 30 years ago shows, it is a “Rainbow Bridge” from the islands to land.
The Bottoms design was chosen out of 23 entries in 1985 after a public viewing in the Faulkner Library. It was added to the rebuilt wharf following a major fire and a city commitment to restore the area as a vital element for Santa Barbara’s waterfront and as a gateway to the city. The Men’s Garden Club and Santa Barbara Beautiful have played key roles in the placement and preservation of the fountain.
The location is a must-do stop by a million visitors a year, many who make sure they snap a picture or a “selfie.”
There are replica dolphin fountains in Santa Barbara’s Sister cities of Toba, Japan, Dingle, Ireland, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
