In 1887, the area known as St. James Court was established on the site of the 1883 Southern Exposition, a "Worlds Fair" type of event showcasing industry after the Civil War.
The court area was based upon a traditional English neighborhood concept of public greens and fountains. The bronze fountain in the center green at St. James Court was made in Brooklyn, New York at the Mott Foundry and installed at the court in 1892.
The ornate grillework surrounding the fountain was originally the railing around the box seats at the Strand Theater. The fountain has become one of the most recognized landmarks in Louisville.
