Fort Sheridan Water Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Water Tower, Building 49
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location |
|
|---|---|
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 hectares) |
| Built | 1889–91 |
| Architect | Holabird & Roche |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000764 |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 1974 |
The Fort Sheridan Water Tower is a famous landmark located in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. This tall tower once played a very important role for the military base it served. It is known for its unique design and long history.
Contents
A Tower of History
The Fort Sheridan Water Tower has a fascinating past. It was a key part of the Fort Sheridan military base. This base was used by the United States Army for over 100 years.
Building a Landmark
The Fort Sheridan military base was started in 1887. The water tower was one of the first buildings completed there. It was built between 1889 and 1891. The tower was made from special bricks. These bricks came from local clay found in Lake Bluff.
The tower was designed to look like a famous bell tower in Venice, Italy. This tower is called St. Mark's Campanile. The Fort Sheridan Water Tower had creamy yellow bricks. Its roof was made of red terra cotta tiles.
Tower's Original Size
When it was first built, the tower stood 227 feet (69 m) tall. This made it one of the tallest buildings in Illinois at the time. A road used to pass right through an arch at the bottom of the tower. This road was once part of Sheridan Road. Today, only people walking can go through this arch.
Inside the tower, there was a huge steel tank. This tank could hold 90,000 US gallons (340,000 L; 75,000 imp gal) of water. To reach the tank, you had to climb a spiral staircase with 225 steps!
Changes Over Time
The water tower was part of a hospital complex after World War I. This hospital helped soldiers from 1918 to 1920. Later, in 1949, the tower was made shorter. It was lowered by 58 feet (18 m) because of a structural weakness.
Now, the Fort Sheridan Water Tower is 169 feet (52 m) tall. Even at this height, it is still very noticeable. People in the area often use it as a landmark to find their way around.
A Recognized Treasure
The Fort Sheridan Water Tower is a very important historical building. On December 4, 1974, it was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized for its historical value. It was listed under the name Water Tower, Building 49.
Later, on September 29, 1980, the tower became part of an even bigger historical area. It was added to the Fort Sheridan Historic District. This district is a National Historic Landmark District.
