Fountain of Noah, Northland Center, Detroit 1963

This authentic 1960s color photograph, captured in 1963, highlights the Fountain of Noah (alternatively known as the Noah water sculpture), a centerpiece of the public art collection at Northland Center in Southfield, near Detroit, Michigan. Designed by renowned sculptor Marshall Fredericks—and occasionally attributed to Lily Saarinen for the water-play elements—this whimsical bronze work depicts the biblical Noah on a stylized ark, surrounded by a playful assortment of animals including a lion, a lamb, and a giraffe. The sculpture is set within a massive limestone and brick basin, which in 1963 was beautifully landscaped with manicured hedges and vibrant red geraniums. Architect Victor Gruen commissioned Fredericks and five other artists to create these “joyful” works specifically to appeal to families and children, transforming the world’s first regional shopping center into a civic cultural hub. Following the mall’s closure in 2015, the City of Southfield purchased the 18-piece Northland art collection for $500,000 to prevent it from being auctioned off. While the mall was demolished in 2021 to make way for the Northland City Center redevelopment, the Fountain of Noah has been carefully preserved; it is part of a city-wide plan to relocate these iconic pieces to public spaces like the Southfield Public Library and local parks. This factual record documents the peak of mid-century “shoppertainment” and the high value placed on public accessibility to world-class art. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.