Brainerd Water Tower

The Brainerd Water Tower is a reinforced concrete water storage structure located at the intersection of Sixth and Washington Streets. Its design reflects early 20th-century engineering practices for municipal water systems and serves as a visible landmark of public infrastructure.

Constructed between 1918 and 1920, this structure pioneered the use of all-concrete construction for municipal water storage. Its completion marked a significant moment in American civil engineering innovation and influenced water infrastructure design nationwide.

The structure earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, reflecting early 20th-century municipal infrastructure development.

The tower sits at a central street corner downtown and is easily visible from the surrounding area. Visitors can view the structure from street level, though access to the interior is not available to the public.

The tower shares its distinctive concrete design with only one other American structure, the Pipestone Water Tower in Minnesota. Both were created by engineer L.P. Wolff, who pioneered this approach to water storage design.

Location: Brainerd

Inception: 1918

GPS coordinates: 46.35833,-94.19973

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:43