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The tower has undergone two renovations. The first took place during a three-year period, 1913–1916. At that time many of the limestone blocks were replaced. The second renovation occurred in 1978. This renovation consisted mostly of interior changes with only minor changes made to the exterior
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Ironically, the pumping station stopped working during the fire. The roof, not made of limestone, caught fire and the pumps stopped working, stopped supplying water to fight the fire. “Many
Chicagoans know that the Water Tower survived the fire. During the blaze, the roof caught fire and collapsed
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said it looked like "a castellated monstrosity with pepper boxes stuck all over it," although he did admire the arrangement and movement of the pumping machinery inside. The Water Tower's castle-like style inspired the design of some
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of 1871. The tower was the only public building in the burned zone to survive, and is one of just a few of the surviving structures still standing. A few other buildings in the burned district did survive along with the tower.
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into the pumps, destroying them, along with any hope that there would be enough water to stop the spread of the fire. But the structure itself survived.”
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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
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was widened, the plans were altered in order to give the Water Tower a featured location in the city.
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The
Chicago Water Tower now serves as a Chicago Office of Tourism as a small art gallery known as the
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of the building. In 2014, the small park the tower is sited in was named for former
Chicago mayor
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picture of E.B. McCagg's
Greenhouse, and discussion of survival of the Lind Block and 2 houses
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Plaza. The tower was constructed to house a large water pump, intended to draw water from
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Industrial buildings and structures on the
National Register of Historic Places in Chicago
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284:. Built in 1869, it is the second-oldest water tower in the United States, after the
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University and college buildings listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
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Government buildings on the
National Register of Historic Places in Chicago
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Chicago In and Around the Loop - Walking Tours of
Architecture and History
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The tower in comparison to other high rises in the area, September 2013
299:. It features the work of local photographers, artists and filmmakers.
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List of jails and prisons on the
National Register of Historic Places
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Water towers on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois
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in 1969. In 2004 and 2017, the tower was featured in the finales of
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Central Chicago
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Minnesota Treasures: Stories Behind the State's Historic Places
595:"The Couch Tomb — Hidden truths: Visualizing the City Cemetery"
335:, is 182.5 feet (55 m) tall. Inside was a 138-foot (42 m) high
814:"The Amazing Race finale recap: 'We're Going to Victory Lane'"
249:
of 1871, although the area around it was burnt to the ground.
735:"Ask Geoffrey: White Castle Inspired by Chicago Water Tower?"
579:. Vol. 2. Chicago: A.T. Andreas Co. pp. 752, 759.
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Hidden Truths: The Chicago Cemetery & Lincoln Park
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The tower is located at 806 Michigan Avenue along the
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Historic district contributing properties in Illinois
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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945:List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state
518:"Throwback Thursday: Chicago Water Tower Edition"
381:The structure has not been universally admired.
1337:National Register of Historic Places portal
18:Chicago Avenue Water Tower and Pumping Station
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339:to hold water. In addition to being used for
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702:. University of Chicago Press. p. 48.
432:National Register of Historic Places portal
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885:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
717:"Oscar Wilde and The Chicago Water Tower"
646:"The Historic Water Tower: Chicago's Gem"
51:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
848:City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower
297:City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower
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785:"Freddy & Kendra Win Amazing Race"
472:"National Register Information System"
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354:The tower gained prominence after the
327:The tower, built in 1869 by architect
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1658:Art museums and galleries in Chicago
477:National Register of Historic Places
243:National Register of Historic Places
1663:Buildings and structures in Chicago
1300:National Historic Preservation Act
413:Water Tower after the Chicago Fire
390:buildings. The Tower was named an
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704:Oscar Wilde on February 13, 1882.
554:. McGraw-Hill. pp. 233–236.
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227:Old Chicago Water Tower District
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1653:1869 establishments in Illinois
524:. March 5, 2015. Archived from
40:Chicago Avenue Water Tower and
1253:Federated States of Micronesia
899:Architectural style categories
345:Chicago Avenue Pumping Station
313:Chicago Avenue Pumping Station
192:
1:
812:Ray, Lincee (June 1, 2007).
761:Minnesota Historical Society
178:; 155 years ago
29:United States historic place
496:"Southwest Suburbs: Joliet"
347:, it drew clean water from
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1305:Historic Preservation Fund
1284:American Legation, Morocco
755:Gardner, Denis P. (2004).
700:Chicago's Famous Buildings
653:Illinois History Documents
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1415:Colleges and universities
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1246:Lists by associated state
261:shopping district in the
191:NRHP reference
157:41.8971722°N 87.6244222°W
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1683:Towers completed in 1869
1227:Northern Mariana Islands
674:"Remembering Jane Byrne"
620:"The Great Chicago Fire"
311:Chicago Water Tower and
241:, that is listed on the
759:. St. Paul, Minnesota:
698:Siegel, Arthur (1969).
593:Bannos, Pamela (2012).
440:Architecture of Chicago
392:American Water Landmark
388:White Castle restaurant
162:41.8971722; -87.6244222
81:The Chicago Water Tower
1222:Minor Outlying Islands
1205:Lists by insular areas
919:Keeper of the Register
575:Andreas, A.T. (1885).
550:Wolfe, Gerald (1996).
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286:Louisville Water Tower
60:U.S. Historic district
924:National Park Service
904:Contributing property
482:National Park Service
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276:in a small park, the
219:contributing property
64:Contributing property
1279:District of Columbia
826:on December 27, 2019
819:Entertainment Weekly
662:on October 25, 2014.
528:on December 23, 2017
522:Chicago Architecture
506:on January 11, 2012.
329:William W. Boyington
290:Louisville, Kentucky
403:The Amazing Race 29
215:Chicago Water Tower
153: /
793:. February 9, 2005
723:on March 10, 2014.
577:History of Chicago
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397:The Amazing Race 6
356:Great Chicago Fire
351:in Lake Michigan.
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247:Great Chicago Fire
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1523:Metropolitan area
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909:Historic district
770:978-0-87351-471-2
484:. March 15, 2006.
450:Water Tower Place
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1442:Demographics
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1136:Pennsylvania
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830:December 31,
828:. Retrieved
824:the original
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797:December 31,
795:. Retrieved
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738:. Retrieved
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341:firefighting
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315:, circa 1886
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1604:Visual arts
1584:Skyscrapers
1459:Expressways
1272:Other areas
1232:Puerto Rico
1066:Mississippi
981:Connecticut
740:January 28,
683:January 28,
532:January 28,
383:Oscar Wilde
368:Pine Street
349:water cribs
253:Description
160: /
136:Coordinates
1647:Categories
1516:Newspapers
1506:Literature
1474:Government
1181:Washington
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1096:New Jersey
971:California
456:References
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116:806 North
1560:musicians
1501:Landmarks
1469:Geography
1452:companies
1191:Wisconsin
1156:Tennessee
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1036:Louisiana
630:March 16,
337:standpipe
1632:Category
1494:timeline
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1347:Category
1176:Virginia
1126:Oklahoma
1106:New York
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1056:Michigan
1046:Maryland
1031:Kentucky
1011:Illinois
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976:Colorado
966:Arkansas
418:See also
274:Illinois
235:Illinois
223:landmark
198:75000644
126:Illinois
113:Location
1594:Tourism
1565:theater
1528:Museums
1484:History
1447:Economy
1437:Culture
1410:Climate
1405:Beaches
1389:Chicago
1293:Related
1196:Wyoming
1171:Vermont
1076:Montana
1016:Indiana
996:Georgia
991:Florida
961:Arizona
951:Alabama
303:History
270:Chicago
231:Chicago
225:in the
181: (
122:Chicago
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1479:Harbor
1131:Oregon
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1001:Hawaii
956:Alaska
892:Topics
767:
626:. 2022
558:
1555:music
1538:Parks
1511:Media
1430:gangs
1425:Crime
1263:Palau
1161:Texas
1041:Maine
1006:Idaho
660:(PDF)
649:(PDF)
217:is a
173:Built
1577:list
1543:list
1464:Flag
1217:Guam
1166:Utah
1121:Ohio
1021:Iowa
832:2019
799:2019
790:WLTX
765:ISBN
742:2018
685:2018
632:2022
624:WTTW
606:2012
556:ISBN
534:2018
500:WTTW
400:and
221:and
213:The
183:1869
176:1869
288:in
268:of
229:in
193:No.
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