The Chicago Water Tower is a contributing property in the Old Chicago Water Tower District landmark district. It is located at 806 North Michigan Avenue along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in the Near North Side community area of Chicago, Illinois. Located adjacent to Loyola University Chicago's downtown campus, the Water Tower serves as one of the Chicago Office of Tourism's Official Visitor's Centers. The Chicago Water Tower is the second-oldest water tower in the world, after the Louisville Water Tower in Louisville, Kentucky.

The tower seen from the Park Tower

The tower gained prominence after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. While some incorrectly believe that the tower was the only building to survive the fire, a few other buildings in the burned district survived along with the tower.^[2] But the water tower was the only public building in the burned zone to survive, and is the only one of the surviving structures still standing. In the years since the fire, the tower has become a symbol of old Chicago and of the city's recovery from the fire.

Oscar Wilde stated the Water Tower looked like "a castellated monstrosity with pepper boxes stuck all over it."^[3]

In 1918, when Pine Street was widened, the plans were altered in order to give the Water Tower a featured location.^[1] The Water Tower's castle-like style inspired the design of many White Castle restaurant buildings. The Tower was named an American Water Landmark in 1969. In 2004, the tower was featured in the finale of The Amazing Race 6.

<gallery> Image:Chicago Water Tower from Hancock.JPG|Aerial view of the Water Tower from the nearby John Hancock Center. Image:20070513 Water Tower Water Landmark Plaque.JPG|Water Landmark Plaque Image:Water Tower and Water Tower Place.jpg|Chicago Water Tower and Water Tower Place Image:Water Tower - Chicago Nov 2004.jpg|view from across Michigan Avenue Image:Chicago_Water_Tower.JPG|Water Tower at Night. </gallery>

Notes

See also

• Chicago architecture
• Water tower
• Water Tower Place

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