Old Fresno Water Tower, Fresno

The Old Fresno Water Tower is an iconic example of American Romanesque architecture. Standing at 109 feet tall, this historic structure was designed by Chicago architect George Washington Maher and completed in 1894. The water tower boasts a storage capacity of 250,000 gallons, housed within its tank. Constructed of red brick, each layer tapers to create a beehive effect. The tower features a robust two-foot-thick inner wall and an outer wall approximately fourteen inches thick, with a three-foot-wide hollow space between them. The exterior brickwork is painted, enhancing its visual appeal.

Originally, the design included plans for three floors beneath the water tank; however, only the second floor was completed, and it was later removed. Despite these changes, the water tower’s unique structure and purpose have cemented its status as a significant architectural and historical landmark in Fresno. The tower served the city until 1963, when advances in pumping technology rendered its machinery obsolete.

Throughout its history, the Old Fresno Water Tower has undergone various functional transformations. While the original design envisioned a library on the upper floors, this plan was never realized. Instead, the first floor was repurposed as a parking meter repair facility for several years. In 2001, significant renovations were undertaken to repurpose the interior of the tower into a visitors' center for the City and County of Fresno. This remodeling included the removal of the second floor and the creation of a landscaped plaza and a separate restroom building adjacent to the tower.