The water tower and pumping station was the only public building to survive. But the water towers main claim to fame is that it is one of only a very few structures that remained standing after the great chicago fire in 1871 and today is. The great chicago fire university of chicago library. It was built to hide a 8 foot stand pipe that equalied pressure from across the street at the pumping station. The water, drawn mainly from the chicago river, which was also the citys sewer, at best tasted foul and at worst carried deadly diseases like cholera and typhoid fever.
Completed in 1869, the limestone structure with its ornate castellated gothic revival style is one of the most iconic buildings along chicagos famed magnificent mile of michigan avenue, and it is the. Rosehill cemetery features chicago mayors, soldiers from the civil war, even oscar mayer. The chicago avenue water tower and pumping station is located at n. Chicago water tower buildings of chicago chicago architecture. This h 2 o hub is responsible for moistening most everyone south of 75th street in chicago, plus a few nearby suburbs. According to the northwest chicago historical society, the redbricked pumping station was built on the site of elsie budlongs farm. This tunnel supplied water to the new chicago avenue pumping station and water tower. Chicago water tower and pumping station sah archipedia. A brief video about the old chicago water tower and pumping station the media mixtape era. Illinois old chicago avenue pumping station, water tower place, and john hancock building on michigan avenue, chicago. They represent the secondoldest water tower in the united states. Water tower place chicago stock photos download 493. In addition to being used for firefighting, the pressure in the pipe could be regulated to control water surges in the area. Very few buildings within the fire zone survived the fire.
Chicagos water tunnels under your feet the university. The chicago avenue pumping station is a historic district contributing property in the old chicago water tower district landmark district. According to the chicago tribune, chicagos drinking water in its early years was scandalously bad. Illinois sp chicago avenue water tower and pumping station, national. Save on popular hotels near chicago water tower, chicago. According to the chicago tribune, chicago s drinking water in its early years was scandalously bad. It is located on michigan avenue along the magnificent mile shopping district in the near north side community area of chicago, illinois. Chicago department of water, south water purification plant, 79th and lake michigan in south shore b. Boyington in what the board of public works called the castellated gothic style, touched off with battlemented cornices. Along the magnificent mile, old chicago water tower district is home to the most beautiful historic buildings in the city.
The magnificent mile or mag mile is the nickname of the stretch of michigan avenue between the chicago river and oak street. The historic water is one of the only buildings to survive the great chicago fire. The water then flows by gravity to 12 pumping stations strategically located throughout chicago. The fire destroyed the room of the pumping station and because of the severe damage, water supply to the city was cut off for eight days.
Chicagos water tunnels under your feet the university of. Guided magnificent mile tour free tours by foot chicago. Subsequent work in 1978 prepared both the pumping station and water tower for use as a tourist center and attraction. Constructed between 1867 and 1869, it was created for chicago s municipal water. A resplendent venue showcasing the work of local photographers and artists, the city gallery in the historic water tower, is centrally located along the citys famed magnificent mile. By 1874, a second tunnel was dug to the same intake crib, and a.
However lacking it might be in aesthetics, the towers medieval inspiration is impossible to miss. Ignatius college, and the chicago avenue pumping station. Deep tunnel pumping room, 300 ft below the surface calumet water. The great chicago fire posted on oct 08, 20, by margaret schilt october 8 is the 142nd anniversary of the beginning of the great chicago fire, which finally burned itself out on october 10, 1871, having killed 200300 people and reduced 3. Sleeve caption chicagos water system from the lake to the city, including. The bureau of water supply provides just under one billion gallons of water a day to chicago and neighboring suburban communities. Summary of information for the water tower and chicago avenue pumping station. In 1871, the great chicago fire ripped through the city leaving only the water tower and pumping station and one other building. Top 10 hotels closest to chicago water tower in chicago. Chicago water tower, one of the few buildings to survive the great chicago fire of 1871. About the chicago water tower and chicago avenue pumping station.
The first lake tunnel was completed in 1869 and connected to the water tower and pumping station at chicago and michigan avenues. The water tower was commissioned to house a 8foot tall standpipe, which helped with water flow and pressure for the pumping station. Browse expedias selection of 1415 hotels and places to stay closest to chicago water tower. Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. The history, heroes and hauntings of chicagos famed.
Though the great fire of 1871 wrapped around the chicago water tower and the nearby pumping station, neither were damaged significantly because they were built with little or no wood. Chesbrough, who had been brought to chicago in 1855 to solve expanding chicagos drainage problems. Designed in 1866 by william boyington, chicagos pumping station, built in conjunction with the historic water tower, was one of the few buildings left standing after the great chicago fire of 1871. It is one of the few buildings that survived the great chicago fire.
Water tower and pumping station bauerlatoza studio. The history of the chicago water tower, the digital research library of illinois. Today, these surviving buildings are some of the most historic buildings in the city of chicago. The chicago water tower is a landmark in the old chicago water tower district chicago water tower. South side industrial landmark to come tumbling down. To combat the issue of chicagos insufficient water supply, engineer ellis s. Fascinating historical picture of water tower, chicago in 1920 chicago river, chicago art. It is on the east side of michigan avenue opposite the chicago water tower the pumping station was built in 1869 by. The louisville water tower you guessed it, in louisville, kentucky is the oldest.
A brief video about the old chicago water tower and. Though the great fire of 1871 wrapped around the chicago water tower and the nearby pumping station, neither were damaged significantly because they. Chicago water tower building, chicago, illinois, united. A new pumping station and reservoir opened in crescent hill after that, and the original water tower ceased pumping operations in 1909. Media related to the chicago water tower including the pumping station, a tower that houses a large water pump in chicago, illinois, united states, that. Roseland pumping station explore chicago collections. His water tower and pumping station, therefore, represent his most famous, though perhaps not his most successful, attempt at integrating form and function in one building design. Title two men swimming behind the chicago water tower and pumping station contributor names baker, ray stannard, 18701946, photographer. Commission on chicago historical and architectural landmarks.
It is located at 806 north michigan avenue along the magnificent mile shopping district in the near north side community area of chicago, illinois in a small park, the jane m. Today, multiple lake tunnels and pumping stations constitute chicagos water system. The water tower has been converted into a city art gallery showcasing the work of local photographers and artists. When water is pumped to the top of the tower a gravity flow is created to fill a connected reservoir at an. Built in 1869 by william w boyington in a castellated gothic style, the historic water tower is one of the most beloved city of chicago landmarks. The historic water is one of the only buildings to survive the great chicago fire of 1871. The waterworks system was conceived by city engineer ellis s. Inside was a 8foot 42 m high standpipe to hold water.
City of chicago city gallery in the historic water tower. Five places where you can still see remnants of the great chicago fire. Historic water tower chicago 2020 all you need to know. The tower was selected as the first american water landmark. The tower was constructed to house a large water pump, intended to draw water from lake michigan. Chicago water tower and chicago avenue pumping station. Chicago avenue water tower and pumping station with downtown in background. The water tower and nearby pumping station were the only two buildings in downtown chicago that survived the great chicago fire of 1871 which razed the.
Built in 1869, it is the secondoldest water tower in the united states, after the louisville water tower in. Chicago travel itinerarychicago avenue water tower and. A glittering mile of shopping, food, hotels, and history. Built in 1902, the building was constructed of the same limestone that forms the neighboring historic water tower and old pumping station. Download 312 old water tower chicago stock photos for free or amazingly low rates. The water tower and pumping station were designed by w. I first encountered the water tower, on n michigan ave magnificent mile, when we first stayed at the nearby ritz carlton. Heading north out of the loop you will see the chicago river, wrigley building, tribune tower and chicago water tower and pumping station. Chesbrough designed a tunnel system that reached about two miles offshore and pumped lake water to the chicago avenue pumping station across the street from the water tower, according to cac. By 1874, a second tunnel was dug to the same intake crib, and a diagonal tunnel under the city delivered water to a pumping station near cermak and ashland.
The water tower and nearby pumping station were the only two buildings in downtown chicago that survived the great chicago fire of 1871 which razed the whole city to the ground. The mag miles heart and soul is the historic water tower, a striking limestone structure at michigan and chicago avenues. The chicago water tower is the citys most familiar and treasured landmark. The old water tower and pumping station, part 1 chicagos old water tower, completed in 1869. Did you know in 2014, the small park surrounding the tower was named for former chicago mayor, jane byrne. Written in a dated style, this book is florid, grandiose, and. It slurps water from the edward dunne crib in lake michigan via the 68th street pumping station and then squirts it out to a thirsty farsouth side. Up close and personal i could appreciate the task of replacing each of the six million joliet limestone blocks that went into the 1916 restoration of this chicago icon. City of chicago, department of water, roseland pumping station, 351 w. Located in the heart of chicagos most popular spots for tourists just off michigan avenue, engine co 98 is rich with our citys history. On either side of michigan avenue, between east chicago street and east pearson street, old chicago water tower district tells the history of the city through its architecture, focused around the chicago water tower.
They get a lot of press for simply being the only public building in the burn zone to survive the great chicago fire of 1871. Inside the historic water tower today is the city gallery, a art gallery ran by the. Your journey continues along lake michigan on north lake shore drive to wrigley field. City architect charles kallal led the project, which began in. Together with the adjacent chicago avenue pumping station, it drew clean water from water. Two men swimming behind the chicago water tower and.
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