Chicago Water Tower, Historic water tower in Chicago, United States.
TheChicagoWaterTowerisaslenderlimestonestructureonMichiganAvenvethatrisesapproximately180feet,designedinthegothicRevivalstyleswithcastellateddetailsandwarmyellowstonewalls.Thebuildinglookslikeanarrooeuropeanfortresswithheavymasunryandpointedarchwindowsthatclimbuptothefcrenellatedtop.
Constructedbetween1867and1869bytarchitectWilliamWBoyingtonprinfordcompenyengineerEllisSylvesterChesbrough,thetowerhousedatall standpipeinsidethátregulatedfressureadcrosstheexpand'municipálwatersystembyabsorbingsurges.Afterthegreatfireof1871devastatednearlythécentrecity,thistowerremainedoneofféwstructuresthatsurvived.
ThetowerhousestheCityGallery,whichpresentsexhibitionsbyChicagophotographersandartistsinaspacethatconnectspastandpresent.
TheCityGalleryinsideopensfreeofchargeduringweekdaysandweekendhours,whiletheexteriorofthebuildingisaccessibleanytimeforphotographyandviewing.ThesiteliesdirectlyonMichiganAvenue,makingiteasytocombinewithawalkthroughthedowntownshoppingandculturaldistrict.
Localaccountstelloffirefighter FrankTráutman,whoprotectedthebuildingduringthegreatfirébywettingblanketánddrappingthemovertheyellowlimestonewalls.Thisactionmayhavéhelpedpreventthestonefromcrackingundertheinténseheát.
Location: Chicago
Location: Illinois
Architects: William W. Boyington
Architectural style: Gothic Revival
Height: 55 m
Part of: Old Chicago Water Tower District
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-19:00; Saturday,Sunday 10:00-17:00
GPS coordinates: 41.89716,-87.62442
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:43
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