Standing tall: Celebrating the adaptive reuse of our water towers

All too often across the United States, when a building or structure becomes old, despite its history and/or iconic appearance, it is till torn down when its ages beyond its intended lifespan or deemed usefulness. This applies to both structures in the public and private realm and far too frequently is due to expediency or just plain dollars and cents.

Source: letstalkscience.ca

One type of structure that too often bites the dust, instead being preserved, are water towers. Often, the single most visible amenity in the community due to their height (and design), water towers provide a critical service, particularly for supplying drinking water, maintaining water pressure, and for fire-fighting purposes.

Through the years, the trend has been to increase the storage capacity and/or height of individual water towers and their numbers as places grow in population. This has left many aging water towers of various shapes and sizes left behind as a charming relic of a former era or possibly fulfilling a minor role related to its original purposes. The most unfortunate situation arises when older water towers are simply felled to the ground like a mighty tree or are being carved up into pieces and sold for scrap.

Beautiful old “Tin Man” style water tower in Groveport, Ohio being decapitated in 2015 – Source: columbusmessenger.com A felled water tower awaits its fate next to its replacement in Sweetwater, Texas – Source: ktxs.com

Fortunately, there are a number of places around the country who have discovered unique and re-useful purposes for their aging water towers. This post is dedicated to celebrating and championing the success of those often grassroots efforts by these communities and local citizenry in protecting these wonderful landmarks.

Source: facebook.com/cannerydistrict

Here are examples of possible adaptive reuses for water towers (or tanks) identified to date:

• Convert the tower into a piece of art (static or interactive)
• Community gathering place
• Community branding/focal point
• Observation tower
• Historic site or landmark
• Residential dwelling(s) – more common in Europe
• Library
• Elevated location for wireless and communications antenna – this author’s least favorite reuse option

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WATER TOWER INTO A WORK OF ART – MULTIPLE EXAMPLES

Many of us take functional items like water towers for granted. Just another piece of infrastructure we pass by on a regular basis. Despite the unique architectural attributes and flair associated with each generation of water towers, seeing them as a work of art may be a stretch for some. But, there is beauty in functionality. Andy Warhol was famous for making art out of the mundane…the common…the functional. So why not a water tower? or even a shorter water tank?

Well, Las Cruces, New Mexico; Brooklyn, New York, and Yelm, Washington all present fine examples of turning water towers into an art form. For Las Cruces, it’s water tanks have become iconic murals. In Brooklyn, a stained-glass rooftop masterpiece. While in Yelm, Washington…an evolving light show.

Beautiful water tank mural in Las Cruces, New Mexico – Source: lcnews-sun.com

“The 32-foot tall water tanks could easily be eyesores that disrupt otherwise panoramic views of the southern New Mexico town. But in Las Cruces, local artists have turned the curved canvasses into works of art. Using a color palette inspired by Mother Nature to share the rich history of the area, the water tank murals share the stories of the Native Americans who originated in the area and the settlers who followed.”

Source: everdaywanderer.com

Another mural water tank in Las Cruxes, New Mexico – Source: lascrucesbulletin.com

As seen in Las Cruces, water towers (or tanks) can become a living embodiment of the community’s combined personality–reflecting the history, pride, culture, and overall sense of the specific place they exist. It may not be hung on a wall in an art museum, but an iconic water tower (or tank) can be the perfect canvas from which to work, while definitely making its presence known and standing out from the crowd much like a fine work of art.

Stained-glass water tower in the Dumbo Neighborhood of Brooklyn – Photo source: reddit.com

One of the most beautiful water towers in the nation isn’t even a real water tower, but a rooftop work of art on a building in the Dumbo Neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The artist who created this magnificent stain-glassed work certainly found the simple water tower to indeed be a work of art!

And when a water tower is paired with active or static lighting, their personality really does begin to shine. Yelm, Washington has successful done this with its historic “Tin Man” styled water tower.

“Through two new projects funded by the Washington State Legislature, the City of Yelm is simultaneously preserving the past while looking to the future. The iconic 125-foot water tower that has loomed over the town since the 1940s is being converted into an art piece, while a new building, to be constructed almost directly under the tower will house a satellite branch of South Puget Sound Community College and a business incubator space.”

Source: thurstontalk.com

Yelm’s historic water tower lights up the night with the local high school’s team colors – Source: yelmonline.com

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WATER TOWER TO A GATHERING PLACE – GILBERT, ARIZONA

While certainly not the only example, Gilbert, Arizona has gone above and beyond in making its historic “Tin Man” style water tower into a gathering place within the city. Similar to being a branding/focal point of the community as discussed below, an historic/iconic water tower gives instant credibility to a third place with its size and panache often being the hallmark of the site. Just refer to the earlier photo of the water tower in Bozeman, Montana’s Cannery District earlier in this post for a perfect example.

Source: discovergilbert.com

https://www.instagram.com/gilbertyourtown/reel/Cz4p-UiPoZh/

Furthermore, at last two cities hold annual Water Tower Festivals – Pipestone, Minnesota and Hernando, Mississippi. In 2025, Pipestone will be holding its 36th annual event and in Hernando this year will be the 51st festival.

Source: hernandoms.org

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WATER TOWER FOR BRANDING/FOCAL POINT – MULTIPLE EXAMPLES

Utilizing a water tower for branding your community is pretty much a no-brainer use of an existing water tower and reuse of an historic/iconic one. Often, the historic/iconic water towers are located close to downtown, in historic districts, or is located in an activity-centered location the community would like to promote (see the gathering place examples above). This makes reuse of the historic/iconic water a win-win situation, as it can be both a giant elevated promotional sign and also a focal point for the attraction(s). Two excellent examples are provided below from Santa Ana, California and Dallas, Texas.

In the Dallas case, as with some others around the country, the wording added to the water tower can help promote a cause or event that is important to the community.

Many more examples of such reuse efforts can be found from across the country.

Santa Ana, California brands itself as “Downtown Orange County on its iconic water tower – Source: instagram.com/cityofsantaana “Creating Harmony” themed water tower in Dallas’ Deep Vellum neighborhood – Source: obeygiant.com

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WATER TOWER TO AN OBSERVATION TOWER – MULTIPLE EXAMPLES

Converting an existing water tower can be an option for communities to preserve iconic structures. In some cases, such as the Giant City State Park and Peoria Heights Water Towers, both in Illinois, the observation infrastructure were built into the structure from the start. The Peoria Heights tower even has a quaint built-in ticket booth at the base of the tower.

Peoria Height Water/Observation Tower – Photo by author: 2021Ticket booth at the base of the Peoria Heights Water Tower – Source: martin-wombacher.squarespace.com

In other cases, the water tower is opened up a few times a year for visitors to see the interior and climb to the top (e.g. Highland Park Water Tower in St. Paul – see photo below).

And then there are cases ware an historic water tower is refurbished/reused as an observation tower, as is taking place in North Park just outside of Pittsburgh. All are excellent ways to adapt an existing structure (when it still contains water for not) for and alternative and useful purpose.

Giant City State Park Water/Observation Tower, Illinois – Source: pinterest.com/brandigivens Highland Park Water/Observation Tower – St. Paul, Minnesota – Source: historictwincities.com North Park Water/Observation Tower – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Source: uncoveringpa.com

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WATER TOWER AS AN HISTORIC SITE – MULTIPLE EXAMPLES

Provided a water tower survives many years of use, care, and potential neglect without being removed or felled in favor of a newer or larger structure, it can become eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as local and state historic lists. As a largely ceremonial designation, this honor does not necessarily provide water towers with guaranteed protection from being replaced or torn down.

Meanwhile, there are many historic/iconic water towers that have been and are protected because of their architectural significance or importance to local/regional/state or national history. Here are just a few of them in the United States.

• Chicago Water Tower (1869) – this handsome Gothic Revival architectural water standpipe survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
• Fall River Waterworks Standpipe Water Tower (ca 1870s), Massachusetts
• Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad Water Tower: Lusk, Wyoming (1919)
• Louisville Water Tower (1860) – the world’s oldest ornamental water tower.
• Remington Water Tower (1897), Indiana

Chicago Water Tower – Source: britannica.com Railroad Water Tower in Lusk, Wyoming – Source: pinterest.com Louisville Water Tower – Source: shutterstock.com Remington, Indiana Water Tower: Source: indanalandmarks.org Fall River Standpipe Tower – Source: heraldnews.com

WATER TOWER TO A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING – SEAL (SUNSET) BEACH, CALIFORNIA

The option of converting an older water tower to a residential dwelling (or dwellings) would be considered unique and very site-specific based on a variety of factors from condition of the water tower, to its location to local zoning/building codes, to community acceptanc and other factors. Obviously, a water tower house is not for everyone. But, in case of the Seal (Sunset) Beach, California home shown below, not only is is an historic attraction that offers tours, but the dwelling can be rented.

Source: sunsetbeachwatertower.com

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WATER TOWER TO A LIBRARY – TOA BAJA, PUERTO RICO

Probably the most unique reuse of a water tower anywhere in the nation is the old Levittown Water Tower in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Beneath the superstructure of the tower, the city built its library and incorporated aspects of the tower into the building.

Perhaps, more utility departments should consider locating their offices in a similar manner? Another option might be to locate a locate historical society offices below the tower? Despite my criticism of the digital gadgets located on the water tower in Los Lunas, New Mexico (see below), the city’s historical society museum is located directly adjacent and the off-street parking is around the base of the tower.

The point is–thinking outside the box (literally), can help save historic/iconic water towers!

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OLDER WATER TOWER FOR WIRELESS/COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA – COMMON

The reason I dislike this option is because the communications antenna and equipment detract from the historic/iconic integrity and appearance of the water tower. Though…if the equipment helps to preserve an older water tower that would otherwise be destroyed, then such an option becomes a necessary evil to save the tower.

A water tower in Los Lunas, New Mexico where too much digital gadgetry detracts from the historic integrity the water tower – Photo by author: 2025

Preferably, the antenna and equipment are designed in such a manner that the blend in or are camouflaged to limit their intrusion into the original design and appearance of the water tower. Otherwise, the water tower begins to look like an elevated pin cushion.

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As is clearly evident throughout this post, the protection and preservation of historic/iconic water towers can be and has been successfully accomplished across the country. Water towers (and tanks) come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, are constructed of a variety of materials, and are designed in numerous forms and styles. Whether they be a standpipe, a “Tin Man,” a spheroid, or just a low-rise tank; water towers (and tanks) often become symbolic of their community. As such, they play an important role in the history, culture, and dynamics that shape each place. If for no other reason, this is factor alone is why they should be preserved and protected whenever possible.

Source: cdn.shopify.com

Hopefully, this post will enlighten those across the country who ultimately decide the fate of these iconic structures, while also embolden those who are fighting for the preservation and protection of these landmark water towers in their community. As but one example of establishing and maintaining the context of “place,” historic/iconic water towers are perhaps the most recognizable and identifiable aspect of a community. Let’s work together to make sure their important role is not forgotten with time and is celebrated in a manner that enhances both the water tower and overall sense of “community.” Peace!

Belen, New Mexico formally designated its beautiful “Tin Man” style water tower an Historic Landmark in 2020 – Source: Photo by author: 2025

SOURCES:

• https://recyclenation.com/2011/03/water-towers-recycle-houses/
• personal knowledge and observations
• https://sunsetbeachwatertower.com/
• https://www.columbusmessenger.com/old-groveport-water-tower-taken-down.html
• https://ktxs.com/news/local/video-sweetwater-water-tower-demolished
• https://www.instagram.com/cityofsantaana/p/CdEJuhthv3h/
• https://www.discovergilbert.com/soundbites/
• https://www.facebook.com/cannerydistrict
• https://www.thurstontalk.com/2019/07/30/yelm-preserves-the-past-while-looking-to-the-future/
• https://obeygiant.com/cultivate-harmony-water-tower-mural-in-deep-ellum/
• https://yelmonline.com/stories/yelms-historic-water-tower-lights-up-the-night-sky,277804
• https://www.pinterest.com/pin/763712049330521675/
• http://www.historictwincities.com/2019/04/03/highland-park-water-tower/
• https://uncoveringpa.com/north-park-water-tower
• https://martin-wombacher.squarespace.com/blog/2014/10/23/shivering-heightsa-trip-to-tower-park-in-where-else-the-heights
• https://everydaywanderer.com/las-cruces-water-tank-murals
• https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/life/sunlife/2016/09/11/artist-week-tony-pennock/89771150/
• https://www.lascrucesbulletin.com/stories/artist-tony-pennock-water-tank-murals-and-much-more,5868
• https://www.tomfruin.com/watertower.html
• https://www.architecture.org/online-resources/buildings-of-chicago/chicago-water-tower
• https://pttg.com/blogs/historic-water-towers.php
• https://www.indianalandmarks.org/2018/07/historic-water-towers-withstand-the-pressure-of-time/
• https://www.heraldnews.com/story/news/2024/04/24/fall-river-19th-century-water-dept-buildings-open-to-public-for-tours/73420418007/
• https://www.news-bulletin.com/news/belen-water-tower-designated-as-historic-landmark/article_fbf3423e-a703-58e0-b8a3-69a8daa78cb3.html
• https://www.hernandoms.org/watertowerfestival
• https://business.pipestoneminnesota.com/events/details/water-tower-festival-2025-2391