Cordova Tower facts for kids
The Cordova Tower is a super cool observation tower located in Cordova Park, Marion County, Iowa. It sits on the north side of Lake Red Rock. This tower is pretty much in the middle of four towns: Pella, Knoxville, Monroe, and Otley.
What makes it special? It has the world's longest and tallest continuous set of fiberglass stairs! These stairs go all the way from the ground up to the observation deck. The tower itself is about 106 feet (32 m) (that's around 32 meters) tall. It was finished in 1998 and offers amazing views of the Des Moines River valley.
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History of Cordova Tower
From Water Supply to Scenic Views
The story of Cordova Tower began in 1972. Back then, it was built as a huge water tower. This tower could hold 130,000 gallons of water! Its job was to provide fresh water to the nearby area.
However, things changed in 1984. A new system brought rural water to the homes, so the big water tower was no longer needed. It sat unused for several years.
A New Purpose for the Tower
In 1998, the Marion County Conservation Board had a fantastic idea. They decided to turn the old, unused water tower into an observation tower. This was part of a bigger plan to improve Cordova Park.
Work began in July 1998 to transform the tower. It was a big project, and it cost about $402,492. The construction was completed on November 20, 1999.
Award-Winning Design
The new design of the Cordova Tower was very impressive. In 1999, it won first place in the Grand Concepter Award. This award came from the Engineering Council of Iowa. It recognized the tower for its "engineering excellence." Today, the Cordova Tower is a popular spot for visitors to enjoy incredible views.
