Chicago Water Tower

The Chicago Water Tower is a 182.5-foot (56 m) tall former water tower in Chicago, Illinois. Inside was a 138-foot (42 m) high standpipe, which housed a large water pump. In addition to being used for firefighting, the pressure in the pipe could be regulated to control water surges in the area. The tower became particularly well known when it survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 while adjacent buildings burned to the ground. Located at 806 Michigan Avenue, it is the centerpiece of a small park, the Jane M. Byrne Plaza. It lies along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in the city's Near North Side community area, and serves as an art gallery for the Chicago Office of Tourism. The tower is a contributing property and landmark in the Old Chicago Water Tower District, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The large urban, mixed-use development Water Tower Place was named after it.

Building data from Wikidata (CC0); heights normalised. Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).