Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower
Why it's listed
Rising 170 feet above the grounds of a former catsup factory in Collinsville, Illinois, this steel water tower was built in 1949 in the shape of a Brooks catsup bottle. A 100,000-gallon riveted tank, painted red, white and blue with a bottle cap and label, sits atop a 100-foot lattice tower. Caldwell Tanks of Louisville, Kentucky built it for the Suppiger Company, whose president asked for a tank that looked like a catsup bottle. The tower supplied water for plant operations and a fire sprinkler system. After the company left Collinsville, it sat idle until 1993, when local residents raised $80,000 to restore its original look. It is recognized for its role in commercial advertising and as an example of programmatic architecture, in which a structure takes the form of the product it promotes. It also draws visitors travelling to nearby Cahokia Mounds. Only the tower is included, since the surrounding factory buildings lack integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues statewide significance under Criterion A for commerce, since the tower advertises a product, and under Criterion C as an example of programmatic (mimetic) architecture. Its unusual shape and size make it a roadside attraction in its own right. It was built by Caldwell Tanks, Inc. for the Suppiger Company, which owned the Brooks brand.
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 02000847, listed August 13, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 800 Morrison Ave., Collinsville |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | August 13, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000847 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1949-1952 |
| Architect / builder | Caldwell Tanks, Inc. |
| Architectural style | OTHER: Water Tower (programmatic/mimetic architecture) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as not in use. The tower sat idle and decaying after the factory closed, and local residents restored it to its 1949 appearance in 1993. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.67871, -89.98590 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 02000847.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4974984
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.