The Chicago Water Tower was built in 1869 and is located at 806 N. Michigan Avenue in the Jane M. Byrne Plaza. It is the second oldest water tower in the U.S. The oldest water tower is in Louisville, KY. The Chicago Water Tower was added to the National Resgister of Historic Places on April 23, 1975.
It was built by architect William W. Boyington. The Water Tower worked in conjunction with the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station to fight fires and control water surges for Chicago’s municipal water system. The pumping station drew clean water from Lake Michigan. The Chicago Water Tower was one of the few structures that survived the Great Chicago Fire in that area (and the only public building in the area) to survive the fire. As such, it has become symbolic of old Chicago and the city’s recovery after the fire.
The Chicago Water Tower now houses the Chicago Office of Tourism art gallery known as the “City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower.” It showcases photos and artwork by local photographers, artists and filmmakers.
