Monument, Belle Isle, since 1897
Newsboys Fountain
Standing and open
- Dedicated
- 1897
- Standing
- 129 years
Designed by Frederick Dunbar and Janice Trimpe
The Newsboys Fountain has stood on Picnic Way and Central Avenue in Belle Isle since 1897, 129 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
Newsboys Fountain today, from the street
What is there now
Standing and open
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
The Newsboys Fountain was dedicated in 1897, as Detroit's lumber, stove and shipbuilding money went into brick and stone.
The design came from Frederick Dunbar and Janice Trimpe.
It still stands and still opens its doors.
Go see it at Picnic Way and Central Avenue, Belle Isle. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1897 Dedicated Designed by Frederick Dunbar and Janice Trimpe
- 2026 Today 129 years and still standing
Where it is
Picnic Way and Central Avenue, Belle Isle
On this map
- 1 Newsboys Fountain This place
- 2 Floral Clock at Water Works Park Next door
- 3 Jerome H. Remick Band Shell 520 ft
- 4 Belle Isle Band Shell 0.1 mi
- 5 Belle Isle Pavilion 0.1 mi
- 6 Spanish American War Memorial 0.1 mi
- 7 Belle Isle Band Pavilion 0.2 mi
- 8 James J. Brady Monument 0.2 mi
- 9 Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory 0.2 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
More from Detroit in the 1890s
-
Harmonie Club
Building, built 1895, Beaux Arts, by Richard E. Raseman
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Coronado Apartments
Building, built 1894, Romanesque Revival, by William S. Joy
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Hurlbut Memorial Gate
Monument, built 1894, Beaux Arts
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
![Belle Isle Pavilion, [Pavilion, Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4294-2180-thumb-512916ec9d.jpg)
Belle Isle Pavilion
Building, built 1893, by Spier & Rohns, demolished 1950
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
![Floral Clock at Water Works Park, Floral clock, Water [Works] Park, Detroit, Mich.](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4470-2305-thumb-1a3e4ef4e0.jpg)
Floral Clock at Water Works Park
Monument, built 1893
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
Dunbar Memorial Hospital
Monument, built 1892, Romanesque Revival
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Belle Isle. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Floral Clock at Water Works Park
Monument, built 1893
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
Next door
- Jerome H. Remick Band Shell Building, built 1950, Mid-Century Modern, by Raymond G. Jepson 520 ft
- Belle Isle Band Shell Building, built 1925, demolished 1942 0.1 mi
-
Belle Isle Pavilion
Building, built 1893, by Spier & Rohns, demolished 1950
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
0.1 mi
- Spanish American War Memorial Monument, built 1932 0.1 mi
- Belle Isle Band Pavilion Building, built 1902, demolished 1942 0.2 mi
- James J. Brady Monument Monument, built 1928 0.2 mi
-
Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory
Building, built 1904, Neoclassical, by Albert Kahn
Photo: PDru2014 from Detroit, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.2 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Newsboys Fountain from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.