Compton Hill Reservoir Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Compton Hill Reservoir Park |
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Compton Hill Water Tower, one of only seven surviving standpipe water towers in the United States, is a national historic landmark.
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Area | 35.8 acres (14.5 ha) |
| Created | 1867 |
| Operated by | City of St. Louis |
| Open | All year |
| Public transit access |  MetroBus |
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Compton Hill Water Tower
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| Location | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Harvey Ellis |
| Architectural style | French Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001555 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1972 |
Compton Hill Reservoir Park is a cool public park in St. Louis, Missouri. It's about 36 acres big and sits in the Compton Heights neighborhood. This park is special because it's on one of the highest spots in the city. It also has a huge reservoir that holds 28 million gallons of water. This water helps supply many homes in St. Louis.
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Park History
How the Park Started
Back in 1867, a man named James P. Kirkwood chose this high spot for a new water reservoir. The reservoir itself only took up 18 acres. Kirkwood thought the extra land would be perfect for a park. So, that's how Compton Hill Reservoir Park began!
Changes Over Time
The park has changed a bit over the years. At one point, there were tennis courts right on top of the reservoir structure. Today, you can find two newer tennis courts on the east side of the park.
The water tower in the park stopped being used in 1929. This was because a new water plant, called the Howard Bend Plant, started working. The reservoir and water tower got a big makeover in 1999. This renovation cost $19 million to make sure they stayed in good shape.
In 1969, a major highway, Interstate 44, was built through the northern part of the park. This made the park a little smaller, bringing it to its current size.
Compton Hill Water Tower
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A Unique Landmark
The Compton Hill Water Tower was built in 1898. It's the newest of three special standpipe water towers still standing in St. Louis. Imagine this: in 1901, there were over 423 standpipe water towers in the United States. But by 2008, only about a dozen were left! St. Louis is lucky to have three of them. The other two are the Bissell Tower and the Grand Avenue Water Tower.
What the Tower Does
This tower is 179 feet tall. It was built to hide a huge standpipe inside, which was 6 feet wide and 130 feet tall. This standpipe had an important job. It helped control strong surges in the city's water pipes. These surges were caused by the old pumps that moved water. The standpipe helped keep the water pressure steady for everyone.
Design and Views
The famous architect Harvey Ellis designed the Compton Hill Water Tower. He also helped design the main building for St. Louis Union Station. Sometimes, the observation deck at the very top of the water tower is open to the public. When it is, visitors can see amazing 360-degree views of the entire city!
The Compton Hill Water Tower was recognized as a city landmark in 1966. It was then added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which means it's a very important historical site in the country.
More to Explore
- Chicago Water Tower
- Louisville Water Tower
- Tower Grove Park, another beautiful park not too far away.
