Manistique Pumping Station facts for kids
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Manistique Pumping Station
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| Location | Deer St., Manistique, Michigan |
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| Built | 1921 |
| Architect | Fridolf Danielson |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000316 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1981 |
The Manistique Pumping Station is a cool old building in Manistique, Michigan. It used to pump water for the city! Today, it's a museum. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Contents
History of the Pumping Station
Why Manistique Needed a New Water System
In the early 1900s, the city of Manistique was growing. Its water system needed updates. By 1920, the old system was not good enough. It could not provide enough water for fighting fires.
Building the New Water Tower
City leaders suggested building a new water system. This included a large 200,000-gallon water tower. They also planned a new pumping station. Voters approved borrowing $97,000 for the project. Construction on the tower started in June 1921. The entire water system was finished by September 1922.
From Waterworks to Museum
The new water system worked until 1954. Then, a newer pumping station took over. The old building was used for offices for a while. In 1973, the Schoolcraft Historical Society took it over. It became a state historical site in 1979. In 1981, it joined the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the tower is home to the Schoolcraft County Museum. It is also part of the Schoolcraft County Historical Park.
What the Pumping Station Looks Like
The Manistique Pumping Station is a tall, interesting building. It is 38 feet wide on the outside. Inside, it is 33 feet wide. The tower stands 137 feet high. It once held a huge steel water tank. This tank could hold 200,000 gallons of water. The tank was 30 feet wide and 44 feet tall.
The outside of the tower has eight sides. The inside has 16 sides. This design made the building very strong. It helped support the heavy water tank. The building is mostly made of red brick. It has nice limestone decorations. It sits on a strong concrete base. Near the top, there are windows. A fancy design is above them. The roof is shaped like a dome and is made of copper.
