National Register of Historic Places

Highland Park Tower

St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Listed
July 16, 1986
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86001670

About this property

The Highland Park Water Tower is a water tower in the Highland Park area of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. It was designed by Clarence W. Wigington, the nation's first African-American municipal architect. The tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It was completed in 1928 at a cost of $69,483. The octagonally-shaped tower, on the second-highest of seven hills in Saint Paul, is constructed of brick and cut Kasota and Bedford stone. It is between 127 and 134 feet high and holds 200,000 gallons of water in a steel tank. It is topped with an arched observation deck, open to the public on two special occasions per year (Highland Fest and the second weekend in October) for those willing to climb 151 steps. Beneath the observation deck, it is ornamented with carved downspouts and shields. The tower has been virtually unaltered since it was originally built. The Highland Park water tower service area of Saint Paul is bounded by Dayton Avenue on the north, Edgcumbe Road on the south and east, and Fairview Avenue on the west, but the tower is no longer in active service. At its highest point, the tower reaches 440 feet in elevation above sea level. Its width at the base is 40 feet, and its width at the top observation deck is 36 feet.

Location

1570 Highland Pkwy.
St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
44.91889, -93.16543

Categories

ENGINEERINGARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Highland Park Tower

This page lists Highland Park Tower. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Highland Park Tower report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Fire Station No. 19
Industrial
0.1 mi
Davern, William and Catherine, Farm House
Industrial
1 mi
Derham Hall and Our Lady of Victory Chapel, College of St. Catherine
Industrial
1 mi
Old Main, Macalester College
Industrial
1.4 mi
Spangenberg, Frederick, House
Industrial
1.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Highland Park Tower listed on the National Register?

Highland Park Tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 16, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Highland Park Tower?

Highland Park Tower is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Highland Park Tower?

The period of significance for Highland Park Tower is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Highland Park Tower?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Highland Park Tower will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ramsey County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Ramsey County.

Explore RamseyCounty ›

More historic places in Minnesota

Browse all historic places in Minnesota.

View Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Minnesota history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Minnesotahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Highland Park Tower will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report