Nancy Goodheart Matthews created the Mermaid Fountain in 1993, and it's notable for its whimsical, mythical, and magical aesthetics and illustrations.

The popular Mermaid Fountain sculpture is now in the Smithsonian Institution's National Registry of Public Art Sculptures, so people across the country and the world can learn about it.

In 1993, the City of Sarasota asked Matthews if she would create a piece of public art—her first—in downtown Sarasota, and the mermaid fountain was born.

Mermaid Fountain Commemoration: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, at Paul Thorpe Park, 135 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. Careers Staff Directory Accessibility Sitemap Legals Public notice certification Our ...

The iconic fountain sculpture of two underwater performers still sits high atop a 25-foot pillar at the park’s entrance, and a line of regal mermaid sculptures greets visitors.