Chicago Water Tower
The Chicago Water Tower is a 182.5-foot (56 m) tall former water tower in Chicago, Illinois. Around it, Soldier Field (2.4 mi) comes first on our list. Its mildest months, May to October, bring highs of 63–84°F.
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A landmark inside Chicago
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 18°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Chicago
Chicago Water Tower is inside Chicago, which has 382 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Oct
May, June, July, August, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 63–84°. When to go ↓
An airport 10 miles away
Chicago Midway (MDW) has airline service, about 10 miles from Chicago Water Tower.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
When to go
A visit to Chicago Water Tower can follow the seasons below.
Chicago Water Tower
The Chicago Water Tower is a 182.5-foot (56 m) tall former water tower in Chicago, Illinois. Inside was a 138-foot (42 m) high standpipe, which housed a large water pump. In addition to being used for firefighting, the pressure in the pipe could be regulated to control water surges in the area.
The tower became particularly well known when it survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 while adjacent buildings burned to the ground. Located at 806 Michigan Avenue, it is the centerpiece of a small park, the Jane M. Byrne Plaza. It lies along the Magnificent Mile shopping district in the city's Near North Side community area, and serves as an art gallery for the Chicago Office of Tourism.
- Type
- Landmark
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places contributing property
- Wikipedia readers
- 45K a year
Staying near Chicago Water Tower
Nearest for a night are Chicago (382) and Leyden Township (36).
- 1Soldier Field
- 2Wrigley Field
- 3Art Institute of Chicago
- 4Barack Obama Presidential Center
- 5United Center
- 6Rate Field
- 7Field Museum of Natural History
- 8Hull House
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Chicago Water Tower | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | in town | — | 382 320 hotels · 20 motels · 20 inns & B&Bs · 9 lodges & cabins · 8 hostels · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 2,731,585 | $334K | D |
| Leyden Township | 13 mi west | 20 min | 36 29 hotels · 7 motels | 90,402 | $288K | — |
| York Township | 18 mi west | 25 min | 52 45 hotels · 2 motels · 3 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 128,137 | $397K | — |
| Rosemont | 14 mi northwest | 20 min | 22 22 hotels | 3,815 | $345K | D− |
| Thornton Township | 21 mi south | 30 min | 46 32 hotels · 9 motels · 3 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 152,667 | $157K | — |
| Maine Township | 16 mi northwest | 25 min | 24 20 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 campgrounds | 136,611 | $375K | — |
| Niles Township | 12 mi northwest | 15 min | 14 12 hotels · 2 motels | 109,978 | $392K | — |
| Stickney Township | 12 mi southwest | 15 min | 12 11 hotels · 1 motel | 40,266 | $269K | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Next door to Chicago Water Tower
More places people know lie within 8 miles.
Big draw12 mi Stadium & arenaSoldier Field
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaWrigley Field
Big draw3in town MuseumArt Institute of Chicago1.5M visitors a year
Big draw48 mi MuseumBarack Obama Presidential Center
Big draw53 mi Stadium & arenaUnited Center
Big draw65 mi Stadium & arenaRate Field
72 mi MuseumField Museum of Natural History1.4M visitors a year
82 mi MuseumHull HousePhoto credits
Soldier Field: Photo by Joon Han Contact: [email protected], CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wrigley Field: Ryan Dickey, CC BY 2.0 · Art Institute of Chicago: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0 · Barack Obama Presidential Center: AlphaBeta135, CC0 · United Center: User:JeremyA, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Rate Field: User Enoch Lai on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Field Museum of Natural History: Sea Cow, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hull House: User talk:Hied5, Public domain
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Chicago Water Tower in questions
Is Chicago Water Tower in Chicago?
Yes. It’s inside Chicago, IL.
When is the best time to visit Chicago Water Tower?
May, June, July, August, September and October, with highs of 63–84°.
What is the closest airport to Chicago Water Tower?
Chicago Midway (MDW), about 10 miles away.
Where should I stay near Chicago Water Tower?
Chicago (in town, 382 places to stay), Leyden Township (13 mi, 36 places to stay) and York Township (18 mi, 52 places to stay).
Advice from Chicago
Ask a question, or answer one, in Chicago’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.