About Bayliss Park

Who Was Bayliss?

In 1855, Samuel S. Bayliss, owner of the Missouri River Ferryboat system and a dedicated civic leader, initiated the city's park system with a gift to Council Bluffs of 2.15 acres in the heart of the young town.

Bayliss Park Fountain from 1889 to 1963

Bayliss had purchased a total of 200 acres from Henry Miller, a Mormon leader who held Squatters Rights. The parcel was a grassy expanse dotted with many young trees. The area soon became known as the public square and was appropriately named Bayliss Park.

Centerpiece since 1853

Since 1853, Bayliss Park has been the centerpiece of Council Bluffs. Host to concerts, festivals, picnics, family reunions, weddings and many other public and private gatherings, the park has been the setting for hundreds of thousands of special memories over the years.

From its earliest days, there has always been a special feature in the center of Bayliss Park. For the first 36 years, the central feature was a bandstand that gave residents a place to gather for public concerts and other performances. The bandstand was replaced by a cast-iron fountain in 1889 that remained the focal point of the park until 1963.

Fountain Becomes Community Icon

In 1971 a new, "state of the art" fountain was installed in Bayliss Park. Featuring colored lights and "dancing waters," the fountain became one of the most beloved places in town for families and couples. It also became one of the most recognizable visual symbols of Council Bluffs, captured by amateur and professional photographers alike. The fountain is featured on community advertisements, websites, postcards, and as a backdrop for family photographs and weddings.