Chicago's Water Tower

	Chicago's Water Tower and Chicago Avenue Pumping Station Michigan and Chicago Avenues. Year Built: 1869 / Architects: W. W. Boyington Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: October 6, 1971; amended June 10, 1981 Chicago Attractions \| Picasso Sculpture \| Chicago Water Tower \| Adler Planetarium

Looking north Along the Magnificent Mile

The Chicago Water Tower and its associated pumping station across Michigan Avenue to the east were built in 1869 of limestone blocks quarried at Joliet Illinois. The tower is 154 feet tall, built to hide a 138-foot standpipe used to equalize water pressure. The standpipe quickly became obsolete and was removed in 1911. These two buildings were among the few to survive the great Chicago Fire of 1879.

The buildings were designed in a castellated, Gothic style and were once described by famous author and satirist Oscar Wilde as a "monstrosity with pepper boxes stuck all over it." Nevertheless, the tower has come to represent the resilient spirit of the Chicago pioneers and continues to stand as a symbol of the Great City of Chicago. In May of 1969, during its centennial, the Chicago Water Tower was selected by the American Water Works Association to be the first American Water Landmark.

The former Playboy Building, originally Palmolive Building, is visible just above the blue Water Tower Place sign

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