Chicago Water Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chicago Avenue Water Tower and Pumping Station
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Chicago Water Tower
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 Location in Near North Side, Chicago
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| Location | 806 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois United States |
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| Built | 1869 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000644 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1975 |
The Chicago Water Tower is a famous landmark in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It's part of the Old Chicago Water Tower District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1869, it was designed to hold the tall machinery of a powerful water pump. The tower became very well known because it survived the terrible Great Chicago Fire of 1871, even though the area around it was completely burned down.
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What is the Chicago Water Tower?
The Chicago Water Tower is located at 806 Michigan Avenue. This area is part of the "Magnificent Mile" shopping district in the Near North Side of Chicago. It stands in a small park called the Jane M. Byrne Plaza.
The tower was built to hold a large water pump. This pump was meant to bring clean water from Lake Michigan into the city. Built in 1869, it is the second-oldest water tower in the United States. Only the Louisville Water Tower in Louisville, Kentucky is older.
Today, the Chicago Water Tower is no longer used for water. Instead, it serves as a small art gallery. It's called the City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower. Here, you can see amazing work by local photographers, artists, and filmmakers.
History of the Chicago Water Tower
The Chicago Water Tower was designed by architect William W. Boyington. It was built in 1869 using yellow Lemont limestone. The tower stands 182.5 feet (about 55 meters) tall. Inside, there was a 138-foot (about 42 meters) high pipe called a standpipe. This pipe held water and helped control water pressure for the city.
The tower worked with the nearby Chicago Avenue Pumping Station. Together, they pulled clean water from special structures called water cribs in Lake Michigan. This system provided water for homes and for fighting fires.
The Great Chicago Fire
The tower became very famous after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. This fire destroyed much of Chicago. The Water Tower was one of the very few public buildings in the burned area that survived. It is still standing today.
During the fire, the pumping station next to the tower stopped working. Its roof caught fire and fell onto the pumps, destroying them. This meant there wasn't enough water to stop the fire from spreading. However, the tower structure itself remained standing.
A Symbol of Chicago
In the years after the fire, the Chicago Water Tower became a symbol. It represents old Chicago and how the city recovered from the disaster. In 1918, when Pine Street was made wider, the city changed its plans. They wanted to make sure the Water Tower had a special place in the city's layout.
The tower has been repaired twice. The first time was between 1913 and 1916. During this period, many of its limestone blocks were replaced. The second repair happened in 1978. This time, most changes were made inside the building, with only small changes to the outside. In 2014, the small park where the tower stands was named after former Chicago mayor Jane Byrne.
Not everyone has loved the tower's look. The writer Oscar Wilde once said it looked like "a castellated monstrosity with pepper boxes stuck all over it." However, he did like the machinery inside. The tower's castle-like style even inspired the design of some White Castle restaurant buildings. The tower was recognized as an American Water Landmark in 1969. It has also been featured in the final episodes of The Amazing Race 6 (in 2004) and The Amazing Race 29 (in 2017).
See also
In Spanish: Torre del Agua de Chicago para niños
- Architecture of Chicago
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Central Chicago
- Water Tower Place
Images for kids
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The Chicago Water Tower, December 2023
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The Chicago Water Tower lit up at night, December 2023
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Chicago Water Tower and Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, circa 1886
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The tower in comparison to other high rises in the area, September 2013
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Water Tower after the Chicago Fire
