Vaillancourt Fountain, San Francisco

Name: Vaillancourt Fountain
Address: Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco, 94102, United States
Telephone: (415) 831-2700

#41 among attractions in San Francisco

Monuments and statues, Fountain

Gallery (12)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 2.0 / charlie vinz / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Cullen328 / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Mliu92 / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Mliu92 / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Mliu92 / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / BrokenSphere / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Mliu92 / URL

Facts and practical information

In the heart of San Francisco's bustling financial district stands a unique piece of urban art that often sparks curiosity and debate: the Vaillancourt Fountain. Also known as "Québec libre!" after the inscription by its creator, the fountain is a concrete structure that commands attention with its unconventional design.

Constructed in 1971 and designed by the French-Canadian artist Armand Vaillancourt, the fountain is a testament to Brutalist architecture. Its stark, bold lines and the raw concrete material from which it is crafted are characteristic of the style, which was popular in the mid-20th century. The fountain is not just a static sculpture but a dynamic piece of art, with water cascading through its various channels and pools, creating a vibrant, if not discordant, symphony of sights and sounds.

The Vaillancourt Fountain has been a subject of controversy since its inception. Some see it as a masterpiece of public art, while others view it as an eyesore. Despite the mixed reviews, it has become an integral part of San Francisco's landscape, reflecting the city's spirit of embracing bold ideas and diverse forms of expression.

Located in Justin Herman Plaza, near the Embarcadero, the fountain is impossible to miss for anyone walking by or enjoying the open space of the plaza. It serves as a gathering place for locals and tourists alike, offering a respite from the surrounding skyscrapers and a touch of artistic flair in a city known for its cultural landmarks.

Alternative names: Coordinates: 37°47'43"N, 122°23'42"W

Address

Justin Herman PlazaNortheast San Francisco (Financial District)San Francisco 94102 United States

Contact

(415) 831-2700

Social media

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San Francisco

Day trips

Vaillancourt Fountain – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: City Lights Bookstore, Embarcadero, Old Ship Saloon, San Francisco Railway Museum.

0.7 miW
Shopping, Bookshop
City Lights Bookstore, San Francisco
17 min walk • City Lights Bookstore, located in the bustling heart of San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood, is more than just a bookstore—it's an institution that has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape of the United States.
~1460 ftN
Waterfront
Embarcadero, San Francisco
8 min walk • The Embarcadero is the eastern waterfront and roadway of the Port of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, along San Francisco Bay. It was constructed on reclaimed land along a three mile long engineered seawall, from which piers extend into the bay.
~1860 ftNW
Nightlife, Restaurant
Old Ship Saloon, San Francisco
9 min walk • The Old Ship Saloon is a historic bar dating back to the California gold rush when it operated out of the side of a ship run aground until the wreckage was buried and the current structure was built on top of it. It is located at 298 Pacific Avenue in the Jackson Square neighborhood of San Francisco.
~650 ftSE
Museum, Specialty museum
San Francisco Railway Museum, San Francisco
4 min walk • The San Francisco Railway Museum is a local railway museum located in the South of Market area of San Francisco. This small museum features exhibits on the antique streetcars of the F Market & Wharves and national landmark cable cars that continue to run along the city's major arteries.
0.6 miSW
37°47'22"N • 122°24'11"W
Crocker Galleria, San Francisco
16 min walk • Shopping, Shopping centre
~1480 ftW
Tower
One Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
8 min walk • One Embarcadero Center is a class-A office skyscraper in the Financial District of San Francisco, California. The building is part of the Embarcadero Center complex of six interconnected buildings and one off-site extension. The skyscraper, completed in 1971, stands 569 ft tall with 45 stories without its flagpole.
~1170 ftW
Nightlife, Cinema, Theater
Two Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
6 min walk • Two Embarcadero Center is an office skyscraper located off The Embarcadero in the financial district of San Francisco, California.
~600 ftE
37°47'42"N • 122°23'35"W
Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, San Francisco
3 min walk • Shopping, Shopping centre, Wine bar
~1440 ftW
Nightlife, Comedy club
Punch Line San Francisco, San Francisco
7 min walk • Punch Line San Francisco is a comedy club located at 444 Battery St in San Francisco's Financial District. It has a sister club in Sacramento, California, and is also associated with Cobb's Comedy Club, now in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. It is San Francisco's oldest running comedy club.
~900 ftW
Tower
Embarcadero Center, San Francisco
5 min walk • Embarcadero Center is a commercial complex of five office towers, two hotels, a shopping center with more than 125 stores, bars, and restaurants, and a fitness center on three levels located in San Francisco, California.
0.5 miW
Museum, Art museum, Civic center
Chinese Culture Center, San Francisco
14 min walk • The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, California, United States, is a community-based, non-profit organization established in 1965 as the operations center of the Chinese Culture Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Vaillancourt Fountain?

Nearby attractions include Four Embarcadero Center, San Francisco (2 min walk), One Market Plaza, San Francisco (3 min walk), Three Embarcadero Center, San Francisco (3 min walk), San Francisco Railway Museum, San Francisco (4 min walk).

How to get to Vaillancourt Fountain by public transport?

The nearest stations to Vaillancourt Fountain:

Tram

Ferry Building • Lines: F (2 min walk)
The Embarcadero & Washington Street • Lines: F (3 min walk)

Bus

San Francisco Ferry Building • Lines: 82 (2 min walk)
Steuart Street & Market Street • Lines: Kbus, Lbus, N-Owl, Tbus (2 min walk)

Trolleybus

Market Street & Steuart Street • Lines: 14 (2 min walk)
Clay Street & Drumm Street • Lines: 1 (3 min walk)

Ferry

Ferry Building Gate B • Lines: San Francisco Bay Ferry (4 min walk)
Pier 41 Gate 2 • Lines: Blue & Gold Fleet, San Francisco Bay Ferry (35 min walk)

Metro

Embarcadero • Lines: Blue, Green, Red, Yellow (6 min walk)
Montgomery Street • Lines: Blue, Green, Red, Yellow (15 min walk)

Light rail

Embarcadero • Lines: K, N, S, T (6 min walk)
Folsom • Lines: N, S, T (13 min walk)