The National Gallery of Art water fountains, where they scoop out $5,000 annually. Photograph by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Newscom.
Throwing a coin into a fountain for good luck may date to the Roman Empire, when life-giving spirits were thought to dwell in water. These days, fountains in Washington are still magnets for coins that provide a lift to local charities or the fountains’ owners.
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Number of fountains: Four. Cleaned: Daily. Take:Josh Wample of Cascade Fountains says a UN’s worth of currency is found, from euros to Canadian pennies. Annual haul: Less than $1,000. Goes to: Children’s Miracle Network.
National Building Museum Number of fountains: One, in the Great Hall. Cleaned: As needed. Annual haul: About $500 in 2013. Goes to: The museum’s general fund.
National Gallery of Art Number of fountains: Nine. Cleaned: East and West Garden Court fountains in West Building are cleaned with a Shop-Vac monthly; West Building’s Rotunda, Garden Café, and Sculpture Garden fountains as needed. Annual haul: $5,000. Goes to: Classified as unrestricted gift to the museum.
Market Square Cleaned: Once a year. Annual haul: $60. Goes to: Buckets of collected coins are turned over to Alexandria Vocational Services, which uses it for picnics and other parties for clients.
National Mall Number of fountains: 17. Cleaned: Fountains are turned off for the winter; passersby take coins before National Park Service employees can collect them. Annual haul: Unknown. Goes to: National Mall fund.
This article appears in the August 2014 issue of Washingtonian.
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What Happens to Coins Thrown in Washington Fountains
Plus—which location gets the biggest haul.
Throwing a coin into a fountain for good luck may date to the Roman Empire, when life-giving spirits were thought to dwell in water. These days, fountains in Washington are still magnets for coins that provide a lift to local charities or the fountains’ owners.
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Number of fountains: Four.
Cleaned: Daily.
Take: Josh Wample of Cascade Fountains says a UN’s worth of currency is found, from euros to Canadian pennies.
Annual haul: Less than $1,000.
Goes to: Children’s Miracle Network.
National Building Museum
Number of fountains: One, in the Great Hall.
Cleaned: As needed.
Annual haul: About $500 in 2013.
Goes to: The museum’s general fund.
National Gallery of Art
Number of fountains: Nine.
Cleaned: East and West Garden Court fountains in West Building are cleaned with a Shop-Vac monthly; West Building’s Rotunda, Garden Café, and Sculpture Garden fountains as needed.
Annual haul: $5,000.
Goes to: Classified as unrestricted gift to the museum.
Market Square
Cleaned: Once a year.
Annual haul: $60.
Goes to: Buckets of collected coins are turned over to Alexandria Vocational Services, which uses it for picnics and other parties for clients.
National Mall
Number of fountains: 17.
Cleaned: Fountains are turned off for the winter; passersby take coins before National Park Service employees can collect them.
Annual haul: Unknown.
Goes to: National Mall fund.
This article appears in the August 2014 issue of Washingtonian.
Don’t Miss Another Big Story—Get Our Weekend Newsletter
Our most popular stories of the week, sent every Saturday.
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