Founded in 1885 to protest widespread proliferation of saloons and public drinking in Las Vegas, the Women's Christian Temperance Union attempted many good works. According to Las Vegas historian Lynn Perrigo, "the ladies of the WCTU came up with the idea... that a public drinking fountain located near the saloons would server as an alternate thirst quencher that would reduce the patronage of the bars. They raised funds, engaged Angelo de Tullio as sculptor and had a stone lion erected... with projecting drinking fountains and a stone trough." The park was dedicated with much fanfare on December 16, 1886.