One of the few original historical monuments (it was built in 1869) right in the heart of the city is the old water tower. It sits on one of the main streets, Michigan Ave at Jane M. Byrne Plaza.

The water tower is 55 feet tall and made of yellowing limestone from the Sugar Run area.

The tower was used for firefighting, as well as for pumping drinking water from Lake Michigan. It was one of the few structures in the Old Chicago area to survive the devastating fire of 1871.

You can only admire the water tower from the outside. The interior of the building is not open to the public.

How to get there

The Chicago Water Tower can be found on the north side of Downtown just two blocks from the famous John Hancock Center skyscraper.

Metro - Chicago station about 300 meters from the tower (Red Line)
Buses - Michigan/Chicago stop about 30 meters from the tower (lines 66, 143, 146, 147, 148, 151)