Washburn Water Tower 003

Transcribed from the engraving at the base of the tower:

WASHBURN WATER TOWER

The history of this tower, and of another tower built on this site, is closely linked to the Washburn brothers, Cadwaller and William, who initiated the development of Washburn Park (known as Tangle Town)

The original tower was built in 1893 to supply water for the Washburn Memorial Orphan Asylum. Water was pumped from Minnehaha Creek to the tower and then piped to the orphanage at the site where Ramsey School stands today at 50th Street and Nicollet Avenue. That tower was purchased by Minneapolis and connected to the city water supply in 1915.

The tower you see, built in 1932 by the city of Minneapolis, was designed by these professionals, who lived in the neighborhood:

Architect: Harry Wild Jones - 1 E Elmwood Place
Sculptor: John K. Daniels - 322 Bursch Terrace
Construction Engineer: William S. Hewett - 4600 Dupont Avenue

The 110-foot-high tower can hold 1,350,000 gallons of water - nearly eight times the capacity of the old tower. It is drained in the fall and filled in the spring to provide a local head for water pressure throughout south Minneapolis during the summer.

Since 1983, the Washburn Water Tower has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in recognition of its unique design and monumental sculptures of eagles and of the guardians of health.

ERECTED IN 2000
TANGLETOWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION