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Grand Avenue Water Tower

Art & landmarks
In St. Louis, Missouri
2.3 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Grand Avenue Water Tower in St. Louis, MO, is the oldest surviving water tower in the city. It stands where Grand Boulevard meets 20th Street, in College Hill, and it was designed by the architect George I. Barnett. It is older than the two other historic towers still left in town, and its younger neighbor, the Bissell Street tower, is only a few blocks away. It lies about 2 miles off the old road.

What is Grand Avenue Water Tower?

The tower is a standpipe, a tall column built to hold water and steady the pressure in the city's mains. It rises at a street intersection in the College Hill area.

St. Louis has just three historic standpipes left. This one is the eldest; the towers on Bissell Street and at Compton Hill both came later. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History of Grand Avenue Water Tower

The design is credited to George I. Barnett. Because the Bissell Street tower was finished in 1886, the Grand Avenue tower was already in place before then, which makes it the senior member of the city's surviving set.

That age is its claim to fame. Its National Register listing recognizes it as a piece of 1800s city infrastructure still standing where it was built.

Visiting Grand Avenue Water Tower: tips

This is a look-from-outside landmark, and a photo stop takes just a few minutes. Since it sits at an intersection, find a safe place to park and view it from the sidewalk. Step back a little to fit the whole tower in a photo.

The Bissell Street Water Tower stands only about 0.2 miles away, so you can see two of the city's three historic standpipes in one short stop. For a longer visit, the Griot Museum of Black History is about 1.2 miles off, and the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site about 2.3 miles.

Practical info

Address: MQCR+5HP, N 20th St & E Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63107
Phone: +1 314-552-9000
Website: stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/planning/cultural-resources/city-landmarks/Grand-Avenue-Water-Tower.cfm
Hours: Open 24 h
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Grand Avenue Water Tower

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Crown Candy Kitchen
St. Louis, MO · 1.5 mi from Grand Avenue Water Tower
An old-fashioned soda fountain and candy shop in Old North St. Louis, known for handmade malts.
Diner & restaurant
Ted Drewes
St. Louis, MO · 7.7 mi from Grand Avenue Water Tower
A family-run St. Louis frozen custard stand from 1929, known for concretes served upside down.