A vital part of St. Paul’s water system, the Highland Park Water Tower rises 134 feet above the top of St. Paul second highest hill. Designed by the nation’s first African-American municipal architect, Clarence W. Wigington, the octagonal tower holds up to 200,000 gallons of water in a riveted steel tank. The exterior features blonde bricks and cut Kasota stone punctuated with little windows and ornamented with carved downspouts and shields. The landmark tower is topped with a commanding Bedford stone observation deck and crowned by a cupola, perched on a red tiled roof. The forty foot base has north and west side entrances.
The beautiful structure is widely recognized as the only architecturally significant water tower in St. Paul and is one of only two historic water towers in the Twin Cities with an observation deck. The other, being Prospect Park Water Tower in Minneapolis. Construction of this St. Paul landmark was carried out by the Feyen Company and William Selby. The tower was completed in 1928 for a total cost of $69, 483. The Highland Park Water Tower is one of only a dozen or so Minnesota water towers to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The tower has not been noticeably altered since it was completed during the height of the Jazz Age. The observation deck is open every year for the weekend of Highland Fest and the second weekend in October.
