Chicago Water Tower

Chicago Water Tower

The Water Tower was built in 1869 by architect William W. Boyington from yellowing Joliet limestone. It is 154 feet (47 m) tall. Today, it serves as the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau Visitor's Welcome Center.

In addition to being used for firefighting, the pressure in the pipe could be regulated to control water surges in the area.

The water tower was the only public building in the burned zone to survive the Great Fire of 1871, and is the only surviving structure still standing.

The Water Tower's castle-like style inspired the design of many White Castle restaurant buildings.

Location

806 N Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Cook County
Illinois, USA

Getting There

The Chicago Water Tower is located in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Here are some ways to get there:

Public transportation: You can take the CTA Red Line to the Chicago station and then walk 3 blocks east to Michigan Avenue where the Water Tower is located. Alternatively, you can take the CTA bus #146 or #147 to the Michigan & Pearson stop, which is just steps away from the Water Tower.

Taxi/rideshare: You can hail a taxi or request a ride from a ridesharing service like Uber or Lyft to get to the Water Tower.

Walking: If you are in the nearby area, you can walk to the Water Tower, as it is a popular landmark in the city.

Driving: There is limited street parking available in the area, but there are several paid parking garages nearby that you can use.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Illinois that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.