In the years since the fire, the tower has become a symbol of old Chicago and of the city's recovery from the fire. In 1918, when Pine Street was widened, the plans were altered in order …

Completed in 1869, the limestone structure with its ornate castellated Gothic Revival style is one of the most iconic buildings along Chicago’s famed “Magnificent Mile” of Michigan Avenue, …

1871. In fact, the Water Tower was one of perhaps only a handful of buildings of any kind to escape, scarred but virtually ntact. The Pumping Station building was gutted, but the walls …

Though large sections of the south and west sides of the city were never touched by the Fire, the Water Tower became a rallying point for the city. It stood as a symbol for a city determined to …

The water tower, having survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, has become the recognized symbol of the city. The Chicago Water Tower was designed by the architect, William W. …

Nov 10, 2025 · Built in 1869, this water tower survived the Great Fire of 1871 and became a living testament to the city’s transformation from ashes into a world-class metropolis.

The waterworks system was conceived by City Engineer Ellis S. Chesbrough, who had been brought to Chicago in 1855 to solve expanding Chicago's drainage problems shortly after his …

Completed in 1869, the limestone structure with its ornate castellated Gothic Revival style is one of the most iconic buildings along Chicago’s famed “Magnificent Mile” of Michigan Avenue, …

It originally housed a large water pump intended to draw water from Lake Michigan for the municipal water system. The tower gained historical significance after it survived the Great …

Dating to 1866, it was built to receive fresh water, via underground pipes, from access “crib” structures a mile out into Lake Michigan. This building is dominated by a 60 x 142-foot engine …