The Chicago Water Tower

Category: Building

Located in the northern portion of the Magnificent Mile at Chicago Avenue, the Chicago Water Tower was built in 1869 and is one of few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, due to its construction of limestone blocks. The tower, which resembles a small castle, is functionally obsolete and serves as a visitor information center, where the public can obtain literature about Chicago attractions. The Water Tower is also home to City Gallery, Chicago's official photography gallery. The pumping station still pumps water for the city. The Chicago Water Tower was designated the first American Water Landmark in 1969 and was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1971.

The Water Tower was erected to house a 138-foot-tall standpipe, three feet in diameter. This standpipe served to equalize pressure and to minimize the pulsations of the water flowing in the mains. The foundation of the Water Tower consists of 168 piles filled with concrete and capped with 12-inch oak timbers. Massive stones laid in cement complete the base up to six feet below the grade. The tower rises in five sections from the square ground-level base with battlement pillars at each of its four corners. Each of the 40-foot-wide sides has a stately doorway and two grand windows. The second and third sections are similar in design as they rise in diminishing size. The octagonal tower is centered and set back from the top of the third section. It rises 154 feet above the ground level. The standpipe was removed in 1911 when it was no longer needed. The spiral staircase which encircled the standpipe, however, is still intact and is used to reach the tower cupola.