Tower of Jewels, Illuminated tower in Lakeside, US

The Tower of Jewels is an architectural landmark within Lakeside Amusement Park, standing about 150 feet tall and adorned with over 5,000 lights. The illuminated structure serves as a visual guide for visitors navigating through the park grounds.

Ground was broken on September 24, 1907, for the tower designed by Denver architect Edwin H. Moorman. It was one of 15 original buildings erected by the Lakeside Realty & Amusement Company, led by brewer Adolph Zang with Godfrey Schirmer, Peter J. Friederich, John A. Keefe and Albert Lewin. Its top held a kilocandela spotlight previously used on the Ferris wheel at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

The tower functions as the symbolic center of the amusement park and shows how early entertainment venues were designed to draw attention. Its form reflects how parks of that era put architecture at the heart of the visitor experience.

The tower and the adjoining casino building are closed to the public; the casino now holds park offices and storage. Visitors see the tower from the park grounds, where its 5,000-plus lights remain the landmark to orient by. A May 2017 hailstorm damaged the tower and its lighting.

The tower was originally topped by a kilocandela spotlight taken from the Ferris wheel of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The tower and the adjoining casino building are among the park's 15 original buildings, and both are now closed to the public; the casino houses park offices and storage.