Chicago Avenue Pumping Station, Gothic Revival pumping station in Chicago, United States.
The Chicago Avenue Pumping Station features yellow Joliet limestone walls, pointed arches, detailed stone carvings, and a prominent central tower reaching upward.
Engineer Ellis Chesbrough designed the water system in 1867, constructing a tunnel extending two miles into Lake Michigan to supply clean water to Chicago residents.
The pumping station and adjacent water tower form the centerpiece of the Old Chicago Water Tower District, representing 19th-century municipal engineering achievements.
The facility maintains a daily water processing capacity of 250 million gallons, continuing its essential role in Chicago's municipal water distribution system.
The structure survived the Great Fire of 1871 due to German immigrant Frank Trautman's actions of covering the building with water-soaked canvas sails.
Location: Chicago
Architects: William W. Boyington
Architectural style: Gothic Revival
Capacity: 250
Part of: Old Chicago Water Tower District
GPS coordinates: 41.89720,-87.62390
Latest update: March 3, 2025 08:01
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