Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Dauer Museum of Classic Cars
Peasish (Hrachovina).
‘Hrachovina’
The Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial
The glass mural of old Zacatlán
Vitromurales de Zacatlán
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è pasta... E pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.
Cesare al Pellegrino
Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.
Flavio al Velavevodetto
Tripe is fried to a crisp.
L’Osteria della Trippa
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Rats didn’t take over the city by being foolhardy.
Do New York City Rats Deserve Their Bad Rap?
about 7 hours ago
The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants
about 11 hours ago
Solo travel can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but it also often leads to the greatest adventures.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Unplug on a Solo Trip?
1 day ago
Museum of Friends
The Art in This Museum Was Donated for Free
1 day ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan Sophie Loeb Fountain
AO Edited

Sophie Loeb Fountain

The lesser-known Alice sculpture of Central Park dedicated to the “godmother of American children.”

New York, New York

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter on the fountain.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter on the fountain.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The fountain in all its glory.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The Queen of Hearts.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Alice, looking a little older than she was in Wonderland.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Father William.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The Cheshire Cat vies for attention.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
An inscription recognizes the work of Sophie Loeb.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  sglesne / Atlas Obscura User
  sglesne / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Alice in Wonderland sculpture by José de Creeft is one of the most popular public artworks in Central Park, perennially surrounded by children and selfie-seeking tourists. What many of them don't know is that only a short walk away stands another, older monument inspired by the curious fantasy world of Lewis Carroll.

Smack in the middle of a run-of-the-mill playground facing Fifth Avenue, the Sophie Loeb Fountain was commissioned by philanthropist August Heckscher in 1936 to honor his longtime friend, the social-welfare advocate Sophie Irene Loeb, the "godmother of American children" who died seven years prior. Together, they once campaigned for the addition of children's playgrounds to Central Park.

Created by American sculptor Frederick Roth, the white granite fountain features 13 characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, including the famous Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, and the Cheshire Cat. Avid readers of Carroll's books may also recognize the Duchess, the Gryphon, the Frog Footman, and Father William, who is seen balancing an eel on his nose. Alice herself is depicted with a flamingo croquet mallet in her arms, looking slightly older than her literary self.

Originally installed in Heckscher Playground as a drinking fountain, the memorial was relocated to the Levin Playground in 1986, where the Central Park Conservancy adapted it into a water play feature. Though the figure of Loeb herself is not directly represented, her name is on the pedestal of the fountain. Inscriptions such as "In the depths of despair may I never lose hope" honor her dedication to social justice and the "home for every child" that she created.

Related Tags

Children's Literature Fountains Sculptures Playgrounds

Know Before You Go

The fountain is just west of 77th Street.

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

sglesne

  • sglesne

Published

August 10, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sophie Loeb Fountain
950 5th Ave
New York, New York, 10075
United States
40.775762, -73.965095
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Alice in Wonderland Statue

New York, New York

miles away

Venetian Room

New York, New York

miles away

Albertine

New York, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New York

New York

New York

Places 405
Stories 89

Nearby Places

Alice in Wonderland Statue

New York, New York

miles away

Venetian Room

New York, New York

miles away

Albertine

New York, New York

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New York

New York

New York

Places 405
Stories 89

Related Places

  • The bronze ships are elaborate and wind-swept

    Battery Point, Australia

    Tasman Fountain

    Located alongside the famous Salamanca Market and in sight of Parliament House, this large and elaborate monument is hard to miss, split into two sections and standing some 14 meters tall.

  • Edinburgh, Scotland

    Gulliver's Foot

    This giant foot is all that remains of a massive concrete play structure that once stood on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

  • The Neptune Fountain in the Promenade, from the front

    Cheltenham, England

    Neptune Fountain

    Believed to be inspired by the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

  • Nilpferdbrunnen

    Berlin, Germany

    Nilpferdbrunnen

    A small hippo-shaped fountain in Berlin, Germany.

  • Fontaine du Soleil

    Nice, France

    Fontaine du Soleil (The Sun Fountain)

    This saucy statue once caused outrage among locals.

  • Home for Retired Playground Animals

    Queens, New York

    Home for Retired Playground Animals

    A menagerie of concrete animals brought together from across New York City's parks.

  • Skippy

    Boston, Massachusetts

    'Frogs in Common'

    Created by a local artist, these quirky sculptures each have their own names and personalities.

  • Hanover, Germany

    Momo Monument

    A bronze statue of Momo, a girl holding a huge ear, sits waiting to listen to anyone who needs it.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.