SAVANNAH, Ga. () — One of Savannah’s most beloved landmarks is about to look a little different, at least for a while. The Forsyth Park fountain will be fully removed for restoration for the first time in more than three decades.

Crews will be preparing for the delicate task of dismantling this historic fountain, which has been a fixture in Forsyth Park here since 1858.

City officials said this project is critical to preserving the fountain for future generations to come.

The fountain was turned off and drained last week as the City of Savannah and Landmark Preservation gear up for the start of a months-long restoration.

Crews conducted a final site visit Thursday to map out the removal plan. Smaller decorative elements like swans and urns will begin coming off first.

Full removal starts Monday and is expected to take one to two days. All of the fountain’s original cast-iron pieces will be shipped to Alabama, where they’ll be restored at Robinson Iron Works.

“I believe this is the most iconic fountain in the country,” Robinson Iron Works Marketing Director Luke Robinson said.

“I flew into Cleveland recently and the first thing I saw was a huge banner that said ‘now offering flights to Savannah’ with a picture of this fountain. So, we know how important it is.”

Robinson said, “We restored it in 1988. I’m going to say we’ve restored somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 to 250 fountains.”

The project will also include upgrades to the surrounding masonry, fence, plumbing and electrical systems. If all goes according to plan, the fountain should return to Forsyth Park by early fall.

While the fountain will be missing from Forsyth Park, city leaders said it’s a necessary step to preserve this historic centerpiece. Once the work is done, visitors can expect to see the fountain looking better than ever.