In the spring of 2002, at the very moment that a 20-year-old Landon Donovan leaned in to let its water ripple over his lips, the fountain took its part in perhaps the most memorable photograph ever taken in the history of U.S. The SD440 may be forlorn, but it certainly isn’t forgotten. You can push the button on its side, but don’t expect to be refreshed - the fountain now runs dry.
After two decades under the Carolina sun, the silvery sheen on this unassuming bubbler has dulled a bit, its age marked by patches of rust. There’s a water fountain at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, a Most Dependable Fountains model SD440 that lost its factory luster long ago. Language in this story may be offensive to some readers. The additions include an epilogue and quotes from Pablo Mastroeni gathered after the story was initially published. We are republishing it today, with additions, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the photo shoot’s release to the public. Editor’s note: This piece was originally published on Dec.
