Prospect Park Water Tower

The Prospect Park Water Tower is a historic water storage building in Minneapolis designed to supply the city's firefighting systems. The structure features a distinctive green ceramic tile cap and rises prominently above Tower Hill Park.

Frederick William Cappelen designed this structure in 1913 as Minneapolis expanded its water infrastructure network. The building served its original purpose until 1952 when changing technologies made it obsolete.

The tower stands as a local landmark that residents have come to identify with their neighborhood over the decades. It represents the practical ingenuity that shaped early city infrastructure.

The tower is visible from the park grounds and can be viewed from various angles throughout Tower Hill Park. Daytime visits work best for seeing the details and appreciating its position in the landscape.

The structure was initially conceived as a performance pavilion but this idea was abandoned after access challenges made it impractical for musicians. Early planners discovered that reaching the elevated space posed difficulties they had not anticipated.

Location: Minneapolis

Operator: Minneapolis Park Board

GPS coordinates: 44.96868,-93.21267

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41