ST. LOUIS – If you’ve ever walked across the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge or even driven along Interstate 270 near the Missouri-Illinois border, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed two striking, castle-like towers rising from the Mississippi River.
They may look like something out of a fairytale or the Medieval Times, but they’re actually relics of St. Louis’ innovative past, once playing a vital role in the city’s water system.
These towers are simply known as St. Louis Water Intake Towers No. 1 and No. 2, built over a century ago to help regulate the city’s water systems and supply clean drinking water.
Perched atop massive pedestals in the Mississippi River, the towers were once part of an advanced system designed to draw in fresh water upstream before it could reach more polluted sections downstream.
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Connected to onshore facilities by underground tunnels, the towers drew in river water, which was then processed and filtered before it reached local water supplies. For many decades, the towers were viewed as a crucial innovation to improving public health in a growing industrial city, specifically by providing clean water to residents.
Intake Tower No. 1, built in 1894, was designed by architect William Eames in a Richardsonian Romanesque style. It features a white stone exterior, a green-prism shaped roof facing north and intricate cube-like stone detailing facing the south.
Intake Tower No. 2, built in 1915, was designed by the firm Roth and Study in Roman Renaissance style. The tower stands out with a beige stone facade, a black roof and a thin green trim that separates the roof from its cylindrical and rectangular sections.
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Tower No. 2 is located just a few hundreds yard downstream of Tower No. 1. In the early 20th century, utility crews even camped inside the towers to ensure continuous operation and manage water flow between the two intake points.
Both towers were designated as city landmarks by the 1970s, though were decommissioned sometime around the Great Flood of 1993. Neither one is in full service, though they continue to captivate travelers with their unique architecture.
In 2015, FOX 2 had a rare opportunity to explore inside Tower No. 2 with St. Louis utility crews, capturing views of the preserved pumps, pipes, ladders and structural elements that once kept water flowing to St. Louis. FOX 2 also revisited the site from the Chain of Rocks Bridge in April, offering a fresh look at the historic towers and their lasting impression on the riverfront landscape.
All in all, the towers stand as monuments of the city’s engineering legacy and ambitious efforts to modernize its water infrastructure. Rising from the river unlike much else, the towers remain a hidden gem of St. Louis often overlooked but nearly impossible to forget.
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