Located on one of the city’s highest elevations, this masterpiece of French Romanesque Revival architecture dates back to 1898, when it housed a massive column of water that regulated the pressure entering the city’s fresh water system.
Long after water distribution methods changed, the 179-foot Compton Hill Water Tower has been preserved as a revered landmark on the city’s south side, being one of only seven such water towers remaining in the United States.
Although the tower has an upper-level observation deck, maintenance issues have required that public access to the tower be temporarily halted. An engineering review and repairs are currently being planned by the City’s Water Division, in co-operation with the Water Tower and Park Preservation Society (WTPPS), a neighborhood support group, and other community interests. For the current status of the tower’s restoration, please consult our website: www.watertowerfoundation.org. The site will also direct you to information on joining the WTPPS, becoming a volunteer or contributing to the tower’s restoration.
Also on-site is a bronze “Naked Truth” statue, a one-and-a-half life size figure commemorating three German-language newspapers published in St. Louis in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Park also features a children’s playground and public tennis courts.