Highland Park Water Tower
Why it's listed
Rising 125 feet above a small grassy plot on the west side of Green Bay Road in Highland Park, Illinois, this brick-enclosed water tower was built in 1929-30 to designs by the engineering firm A.S. Coffin, Pearse, Greeley and Hansen. The tower is 54 feet in diameter and houses a 500,000 gallon steel tank supported by eight steel posts, which give the structure an octagonal plan. The tank's spherical top forms the roof. A concrete block base with a pedimented doorway supports eight tall blind arches, each with four small round-headed windows. It is one of the few enclosed tanks remaining in the Chicago area; another stands in Riverside. A 1929 magazine article titled "Beauty Added to Utility in Elevated Tank" noted its distinctive design. Its construction began a public works system and water filtration plant serving Highland Park, Highwood and Deerfield. Still used as a water tower and in excellent, unaltered condition, it is visible from many parts of the city and serves as Highland Park's logo.
Significance in brief: The tower is an outstanding landmark visible from many points in the city and one of the few remaining enclosed tanks in the Chicago area. Its construction marked the start of a public works system and water filtration plant serving Highland Park, Highwood and Deerfield. It is also the recognized logo of the city.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002564, listed September 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Central Green Bay Rd., Highland Park |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | September 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002564 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | A.S. Coffin, Pearse, Greeley and Hansen, Engineers |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and unaltered; the present use is the same as the original use, a water tower. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.18578, -87.80427 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q85766544
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.