Chicago Water Tower
The only public building in the Great Chicago Fire's burn zone that didn't fall — and it's still standing on Michigan Avenue.
Coming soon on iOS — be first to walk Chicago offline.
In 1871, adjacent buildings burned to the ground while this 182.5-foot limestone tower survived. The pumping station next door actually failed during the fire, making the tower's survival more luck than engineering. Today it houses an art gallery run by the Chicago Office of Tourism, and sits at the center of Jane M. Byrne Plaza on the Magnificent Mile.
What to look for
- The yellowing Lemont limestone exterior — the same stone that went through a three-year renovation between 1913 and 1916, with many blocks replaced
- The tower's proportions: 182.5 feet tall outside, but the interior standpipe reached only 138 feet — the gap is all structure
- Its plaza placement on Michigan Avenue, a deliberate choice made in 1918 when Pine Street was widened specifically to give the tower a featured position
Located at 806 Michigan Avenue; the interior gallery is operated by the Chicago Office of Tourism.
Chicago Water Tower is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Chicago, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Chicago pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Chicago
- Willis TowerIt held the world's tallest title for nearly 25 years after opening in 1973 — and the Skydeck is still the highest observation deck in the United States.
- Art Institute of ChicagoFour paintings you've seen your whole life — Nighthawks, La Grande Jatte, The Old Guitarist, American Gothic — hang in the same building.
- John Hancock Center (875 N Michigan Ave)A moving platform pivots you 30 degrees outward over the Magnificent Mile — 1,128 feet of nothing beneath your feet.
- Aon CenterWhen it opened in 1973 as "Big Stan," this 83-floor tower was the fourth-tallest building on Earth — and clad entirely in marble.
- United CenterThe Bulls hardwood floor is literally assembled over the Blackhawks ice and taken apart game by game — two teams, one frozen surface, shared by puzzle.
- Soldier FieldThe NFL's oldest stadium lost its National Historic Landmark status because of the renovation meant to save it.