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 |
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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, which is like 27 football fields! This park is special because it sits on one of the highest spots in the city. Inside the park, there's a huge reservoir that used to hold millions of gallons of water for the city's residents.
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History of Compton Hill Park
How the Park Started
Back in 1867, a smart engineer named James P. Kirkwood chose this high spot for a new water reservoir. The reservoir only took up about half the land. So, Kirkwood suggested turning the rest of the area into a park for everyone to enjoy!
Changes Over Time
The top of the reservoir once had tennis courts where people could play. Today, there are two newer tennis courts on the east side of the park.
The famous water tower in the park stopped being used in 1929. This was because a new water plant, the Howard Bend Plant, started working. The reservoir and water tower were later fixed up in 1999. This big renovation cost about $19 million!
In 1969, a major highway called Interstate 44 was built. It went through the northern part of the park. This made the park a bit smaller, but it's still a great place to visit.
Compton Hill Water Tower
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The Compton Hill Water Tower was built in 1898. It's one of only three special "standpipe" water towers left in St. Louis. Imagine, in 1901, there were over 400 of these towers across the United States! Now, only about a dozen remain, and St. Louis is lucky to have three.
What the Water Tower Does
This tower is 179 feet tall, which is about as tall as an 18-story building! Inside, it hides a huge pipe that is 6 feet wide and 130 feet tall. This giant pipe helped to control the water pressure in the city's pipes. It stopped dangerous surges, like when water pumps would suddenly push too much water. This kept the water flowing smoothly to homes.
Design and Views
The water tower was designed by an architect named Harvey Ellis. He also helped design the beautiful St. Louis Union Station.
Sometimes, the observation deck at the very top of the water tower is opened to the public. When it is, you can go up and see amazing 360-degree views of the whole city! It's a fantastic way to see St. Louis from above.
The Compton Hill Water Tower is very important. It was named a city landmark in 1966. Then, in 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special historic site in the country.
