Prospect Park Water Tower

Last updated
Prospect Park Water Tower and Tower Hill Park
Populated Witch's Hat.jpg
The Prospect Park Water Tower overlooking Tower Hill Park
USA Minnesota location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location55 Malcolm Avenue SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°58′7″N93°12′46″W / 44.96861°N 93.21278°W / 44.96861; -93.21278
Area4.7 acres (1.9 ha)
Built1906 (park), 1913 (water tower)
Architect Frederick William Cappelen
Architectural styleLate-19th and 20th Century Revivals
Part of Prospect Park Residential Historic District (ID15000213)
NRHP reference No. 97001426 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1997
Designated CPMay 12, 2015

The Prospect Park Water Tower, sometimes referred to as the Witch's Hat Water Tower, is a historic water tower in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1913 on Tower Hill Park, a hilltop park established in 1906. The water tower has become the neighborhood's architectural mascot for its singular design by Frederick William Cappelen. [2] The tower is rumored to be the inspiration for Bob Dylan's song "All Along the Watchtower," as the tower was clearly visible from Dylan's home in nearby Dinkytown. [3] [ citation needed ]

Contents

The park and water tower were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997 for having local significance in the themes of architecture, community planning and development, and engineering. [4] It was nominated for its associations with city planning, urban infrastructure, architectural eclecticism, and the work of architect Frederick William Cappelen. [5] In 2015 they were also listed as contributing properties to the Prospect Park Residential Historic District. [6]

History

Erected in 1913 on Tower Hill, one of the highest points in Minneapolis, the tower was built to increase water pressure in the area and thereby enhance firefighting efforts. The functional structure, however, was given a whimsical appearance by city engineer Frederick William Cappelen. To the delight of generations of Minnesotans to come, he topped the building with a fanciful brimmed "hat" of green ceramic tile, and hence its nickname was born. [2]

Tower Hill and the Prospect Park neighborhood have enjoyed a love affair of sorts over the years. From the beginning, the tower and surrounding parkland attracted neighbors, young and old, who picnicked under shade trees in summer and sledded down the hill's icy slopes in winter. The tower's observation deck provided views of the Minneapolis and St. Paul skylines, and the building itself inspired many artists who captured its one-of-a-kind profile in charcoal and watercolor. More than once over the years it has also galvanized neighborhood pride and determination on its own behalf. [2] [ clarification needed ]

The Prospect Park Water Tower ceased to function as a water tower in 1952, but it remained an esteemed neighborhood symbol. In 1955 when the city announced plans to demolish the tower following a lightning strike, the community mobilized. "Spurred on by eleven members of the Prospect Park Blue Birds (a junior organization of the Campfire Girls)," neighbors fought city hall and saved their tower. [2]

Since the late 20th century, the observation deck is open only one day a year, which is celebrated with an ice-cream social. [2]

The observation deck was last opened for a Doors Open Days in Minneapolis in 2019. During the event, a step on the internal staircase broke which has resulted in the observation deck not reopening as of 2023. A study commissioned by the city of Minneapolis estimated the costs it would take to reopen the building from $50,000 to $1.3 million depending on the scope of repairs and rehabilitation. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foshay Tower</span> United States historic place

The Foshay Tower, now the W Minneapolis – The Foshay hotel, is a skyscraper in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Modeled after the Washington Monument, the building was completed in 1929, months before the stock market crash in October of that year. It has 32 floors and stands 447 feet (136 m) high, which made it one of the tallest buildings in the Midwest for 48 years. The antenna mast extends the total height of the structure to 607 feet (185 m). The building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, is an example of Art Deco architecture. Its address is 821 Marquette Avenue, although it is set well back from the street and is actually closer to 9th Street than Marquette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prospect Park, Minneapolis</span> Neighborhood in Hennepin, Minnesota, United States

Prospect Park is a historic neighborhood within the University community of the U.S. city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The area is bounded by the Mississippi River to the south, the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota to the east, the Burlington Northern railroad yard to the north, and the Stadium Village commercial district of the University of Minnesota to the west. The neighborhood is composed of several districts which include the East River Road area. The 1913 Prospect Park Water Tower is a landmark and neighborhood icon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neighborhoods of Minneapolis</span> Official communities and neighborhood of Minneapolis

Minneapolis is officially defined by its city council as divided into 83 neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are historically grouped into 11 communities. Informally, there are city areas with colloquial labels. Residents may also group themselves by their city street suffixes: North, Northeast, South, and Southeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Avenue Bridge (Minneapolis)</span> Bridge in Minnesota, United States

The Third Avenue Bridge is a landmark structure of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, originally known as the St. Anthony Falls Bridge. It carries road traffic across the Mississippi River and upper fringes of Saint Anthony Falls. The multi-arched bridge meets with Third Avenue in downtown Minneapolis at its south end, but curves as it crosses the river, and connects with Central Avenue on its north end. The shallow "S" curve in the bridge was built to avoid fractures in the limestone bedrock that supports the bridge piers. The road is also designated Minnesota State Highway 65. Construction began in 1914, and it opened four years later in 1918. The bridge, which uses Melan arches of an open spandrel design, has been modified since that time. The 2,223-foot crossing was designed by city engineer Frederick W. Cappelen, who also created plans for other similar bridges in Minneapolis such as the Franklin Avenue Bridge. It cost US$862,254.00 at the time of construction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University Avenue (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)</span> Street in Minnesota, U.S.

University Avenue is a street that runs through both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. It begins near the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul and extends westward into neighboring Minneapolis, where it passes the University of Minnesota, and then turns north to pass through several suburbs before its main portion ends in Blaine, Minnesota, although there are stretches of road designated as University Avenue that are north of the Blaine terminus, the final stretch ending near Andree, Minnesota. For many years, the road carried U.S. Highway 12 and U.S. Highway 52, and University Avenue is still a significant thoroughfare in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Avenue Bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, carries Franklin Avenue over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was designed by Frederick William Cappelen, assisted by Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, both of whom were among four important Norwegian-American engineers working in the region at the time. The reinforced-concrete open-spandrel arched structure was completed in 1923. The bridge's overall length is 1054.7 feet, with a central span of 400 feet. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 along with several other area bridges as part of a multiple-property submission. At the time of its completion, the bridge's central span was the longest concrete arch in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Avenue Bridge</span> Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota


The 10th Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River near downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota and also in proximity to the University of Minnesota. The bridge was historically referred to as the Cedar Avenue Bridge in the days prior to the construction of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge when it connected to Cedar Ave. The bridge connects 10th Avenue Southeast, on the east side of the Mississippi River, to 19th Avenue South on the west side. The Seven Corners area of the Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis neighborhood is at the southern end of the bridge. The downstream end of the lower Saint Anthony Falls lock and dam extends under the bridge. The historic Southeast Steam Plant is also located nearby.

Sound 80 is a recording studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States founded by engineer Tom Jung and composer/musician Herb Pilhofer in 1969. Largely involved with local artists, the studio is best known for recording portions of Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks in 1974 and Cat Stevens' Izitso in 1977, as well as demo tapes for Prince's first album For You in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washburn Park Water Tower</span> Historic water tower

The Washburn Park Water Tower is a landmark in the Tangle town neighborhood of south Minneapolis, Minnesota, built in 1931. It is located on top of one of the highest points of south Minneapolis. The tower is considered an unofficial "beacon" for incoming planes landing at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport; however, it is not as visible to passers-by at the base of the hill due to the large homes and tall oak trees scattered on the hillside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenwood Park Water Tower</span> Stone water tower

The Kenwood Park Water Tower is an octagonal brick and stone water tower in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1910 and designed by Frederick William Cappelen, the city of Minneapolis engineer at the time. The tower is 110 feet tall, making it the tallest structure in Kenwood. The tower has not been used to store water since 1954. The tower was built to alleviate water pressure and storage problems in the Lowry Hill area. Although the tower is not the work of a master architect or representative of a specific architectural style, its design is distinctive. It is ornamented with projecting ribs, narrow rectangular windows, and Lombard bands, suggesting a medieval fortress. The tower serves as a distinct visual focus within the neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence W. Wigington</span> American architect

Clarence Wesley "Cap" Wigington (1883-1967) was an American architect who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. After winning three first prizes in charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink at an art competition during the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1899, Wigington went on to become a renowned architect across the Midwestern United States, at a time when African-American architects were few. Wigington was the nation's first black municipal architect, serving 34 years as senior designer for the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota's architectural office when the city had an ambitious building program. Sixty of his buildings still stand in St. Paul, with several recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Wigington's architectural legacy is one of the most significant bodies of work by an African-American architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Park Tower</span> United States historic place

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Hennepin County, Minnesota</span>

This list is of the properties and historic districts which are designated on the National Register of Historic Places or that were formerly so designated, in Hennepin County, Minnesota; there are 194 entries as of November 2024. A significant number of these properties are a result of the establishment of Fort Snelling, the development of water power at Saint Anthony Falls, and the thriving city of Minneapolis that developed around the falls. Many historic sites outside the Minneapolis city limits are associated with pioneers who established missions, farms, and schools in areas that are now suburbs in that metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Ramsey County, Minnesota</span>

This is a complete list of National Register of Historic Places listings in Ramsey County, Minnesota. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States. The locations of National Register properties and districts for which the latitude and longitude coordinates are included below, may be seen in an online map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merchants National Bank (Winona, Minnesota)</span> United States historic place

Merchants National Bank is a bank building in Winona, Minnesota, United States, designed in the Prairie School architectural style. It was built in 1912 and features elaborate terracotta and stained-glass ornamentation. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 for having state-level significance in the themes of architecture and commerce. It was nominated for being the "largest and probably best example" of the 18 Midwestern banks designed by Purcell, Feick & Elmslie, a significant influence on early-20th-century American architecture. It is also a contributing property to the Winona Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick William Cappelen</span> Norwegian civil engineer from Minneapolis (1857–1921)

Frederick William Cappelen was a Norwegian-born architect and civil engineer who held the office of Minneapolis City Engineer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Becker County, Minnesota</span>

This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Becker County, Minnesota. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The locations of National Register properties and districts for which the latitude and longitude coordinates are included below may be seen in an online map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comstock House</span> Historic house in Minnesota, United States

The Comstock House is a historic house museum in Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. It was built for Solomon Comstock and his family from 1882 to 1883 in a mix of Queen Anne and Eastlake style. Comstock (1842–1933) was one of Moorhead's first settlers and an influential figure in business, politics, civics, and education in the growing city and state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duluth Armory</span> Former armory and event venue in Minnesota

The Duluth Armory is a former armory and event venue in the East Hillside neighborhood of Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1915 for the National Guard and naval militia, and expanded in 1941. From the beginning the National Guard also rented out the drill hall as an event venue, as it provided a larger and more flexible space than any other local venue until the construction of the Duluth Arena-Auditorium in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Sumner Sedgwick</span> American architect

Charles Sumner Sedgwick was an American architect based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

References

CC BY-SA icon.svg This article incorporates text from MNopedia, which is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Hession, Jane King (2015-05-02). "Prospect Park Water Tower, Minneapolis". MNopedia. Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  3. Tushie-Lessard, Clarise (2008-06-04). "Witch's Hat Tower opens once this year". Minnesota Daily. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  4. "Prospect Park Water Tower and Tower Hill Park". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  5. Curran, Christine A.; Charlene K. Roise (June 1997). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Prospect Park Water Tower and Tower Hill Park (Report). National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  6. Roise, Charlene; Stephanie K. Atwood; Marjorie Pearson (August 2014). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Prospect Park Residential Historic District (PDF) (Report). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2016-06-25.
  7. Du, Susan (September 3, 2023). "Repairing and reopening Minneapolis' Witch's Hat Tower could cost at least $350,000". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 4, 2023.