Bethesda Fountain is the one tourists flock to. But just to the west is an ornate beauty dating to 1860, made with frosted glass bowl lamps, gilded black goblets, Minton tiles and topped by a golden spire.
This is Cherry Hill Fountain, in a part of the park overlooking the Lake and near the Ramble ringed by cherry trees.
It’s delicate and pretty, but it also served a purpose, providing “people on horseback or in carriages a place to rest, admire the view of the Lake, and water their animals” in the trough at the base.
Used as a parking lot for many years, it was finally restored in the 1990s. Once again, its gentle waters flow through eight ornate flowers.
It’s one of those hiding-in-plain-sight gems that most people walk right by on their way to some other park attraction.
Horses are no longer allowed to drink from it (as they do in this 1870s photo), but it’s still a lovely scenic spot.
[Photo at left: Central Park Conservatory]
Ephemeral New York 