Fitting the Midwestern spirit of Kansas City, its very first fountains served a more practical purpose than aesthetics. The first fountain dedicated at 15th and Paseo in 1899 was paid by the city for the people to drink from. Later that year, the 9th Street Fountain was also dedicated which was followed by many other fountains constructed in the city naming it “The City of Fountains”. In 1941, the 15th Street Fountain was destroyed making the 9th Street Fountain or presently known as The Women’s Leadership as the oldest.

It was George Kessler who played a major role in the landscape architecture development in Kansas City and designed both the 15th Street Fountain and the 9th Street Fountain. Kessler worked with Parks Board architect John Van Brunt in designing the 9th Street Fountain. It was planned to be an entry feature to Paseo Boulevard, which had just been built.

The design was very simple which originally included an oval, cut limestone basin with water spraying upwards from nozzles in the center of the basin's pool surrounded by a raised sidewalk, a flower garden, gas lamps, and a balustrade above to the south. It costs $4,115 only which is far less than the fountains recently constructed in the city.

The fountain was repaired in 1970 after it stopped working sometime in the 1940s. After only a few years, it was again restored more thoroughly in 1990 at a cost of $125,000. It was the Central Exchange, a Kansas City organization focusing on women leadership in local business and community efforts that led in raising the needed money. Thus, in honor of their effort, the fountain was renamed the Women’s Leadership Fountain and the names of the 12 prominent women leaders from Kansas City were inscribed on the fountain.

However, the fountain needs to be restored again in January 2008 which will be completed in 2009. Central Exchange and others had joined forces to raise the $1.3 million for the complete renovation which include among others, the fountain’s plumbing and foundation. Kessler went on to include numerous plans for the fountains in his urban designs of the park and boulevard system. For instance, the water’s feature will be changed to reflect a more contemporary style while keeping the fountain’s original design.