Nestled within the historic Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, Colorado, an ornate marble drinking fountain stands as a testament to the city’s early 20th-century ingenuity. Installed during the hotel’s grand opening on New Year’s Day in 1909, this fountain once provided guests with pure, cold water sourced directly from the city-owned Arapaho Glacier.

At that time, Boulder had invested in a $200,000 pipeline to channel the glacier’s pristine waters into the city, boasting a purity of “99.996%.” The Arapaho Glacier, the largest in Colorado, has experienced significant retreat over the past century, losing over 52% of its surface area. Consequently, the direct glacial water connection to the fountain has diminished, with the city’s water supply now comprising only about 2% glacial water.

Despite these changes, the fountain remains a cherished historical artifact within the hotel, symbolizing Boulder’s rich heritage and its enduring connection to the surrounding natural landscape.

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