Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
26 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
26 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
26 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
26 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Missouri St. Louis Compton Hill Water Tower

Compton Hill Water Tower

One of few surviving standpipe water towers in the U.S.

St. Louis, Missouri

Added By
Grant Lodholz
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Compton Hill Water Tower.   Paul Sableman/CC BY 2.0
Compton Hill Water Tower.   Paul Sableman/CC BY 2.0
Compton Hill Water Tower.   Maria E. Brown/CC BY-SA 3.0
Compton Hill Water Tower behind the statue called “The Naked Truth.”   Matt/CC BY 2.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Nicole Saraniero / Atlas Obscura User
  justkorix / Atlas Obscura User
Compton Hill Water Tower.   Millbrooky/CC BY 3.0
  Ben Faden / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the early 1900s there were at least 400 standpipe water towers in the U.S., but the number has dwindled down to two dozen or fewer. St. Louis has three standpipes remaining today, which are cylindrical water tanks set directly in the ground rather than raised up by legs or a pole. 

The Compton Hill Water Tower is the youngest of the Missouri city's decorative water towers. Built in 1898, the $48,000, 179-foot tower, made of rusticated limestone, brick, and terracotta, was designed by architect Harvey Ellis. The walls are adorned with leaves and mythical creatures.

Visitors are allowed inside to walk the 198 iron steps spiral steps to the top of the tower, where an observation deck under a bell-shaped roof of terracotta tiles offers a magnificent 360-degree view of St. Louis. It was a popular destination during the 1904 World's Fair, when over 5,000 visitors climbed those stairs.

The tower was enjoyed and in service for 31 years; in 1929 its job was replaced by the larger, more efficient Stacy Park Reservoir. By 1984 it was deemed too dangerous to enter due to increasing deterioration. The tower fell into further disrepair over the next 10 years until the city undertook a $19 million restoration project from 1995 to 1999. It has since closed again—since the winter of 2016, debris and rocks have continued to fall off of the tower.

The Water Tower Park & Preservation Society is leading an effort to gain funding for its restoration.

Related Tags

Water Towers Reservoir Architecture Infrastructure

Community Contributors

Added By

GrantL

Edited By

applingt, Ben Faden, Michael Inscoe, Collector of Experiences...

  • applingt
  • Ben Faden
  • Michael Inscoe
  • Collector of Experiences
  • Nicole Saraniero
  • justkorix

Published

November 7, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.watertowerfoundation.org/why-is-the-tower-closed/
  • http://www.stlwater.com/watertowers.php
  • http://watertowerfoundation.org/
Compton Hill Water Tower
1898 S Grand Blvd
St. Louis, Missouri
United States
38.615179, -90.239581
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'The Naked Truth'

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Tower Grove Park Pavilions

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Venice Cafe

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Louis

St. Louis

Missouri

Places 36
Stories 10

Nearby Places

'The Naked Truth'

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Tower Grove Park Pavilions

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Venice Cafe

St. Louis, Missouri

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of St. Louis

St. Louis

Missouri

Places 36
Stories 10

Related Places

  • Pont de Montiberri

    Lleida, Spain

    Pont de Montiberri

    A river hides a charming medieval bridge.

  • Espada Aqueduct

    San Antonio, Texas

    Espada Aqueduct

    Water still flows through the oldest Spanish aqueduct in America.

  • Underground reservoir

    San Juan, Philippines

    El Deposito Underground

    The largest Spanish artifact built in the Philippines and one of the oldest underground reservoirs in the world.

  • View of the Jumbo Tower from Balkerne Gate

    Colchester, England

    Jumbo Water Tower

    The largest Victorian water tower in Britain.

  • Réservoir de Lavardens

    Bordeaux, France

    Réservoir de Lavardens

    A very uncommon water tank standing in the middle of the grapevines in Bordeaux nearly a century after its construction.

  • A visitor descends the spiral staircase through the reservoir.

    Varel, Germany

    Wasserturm Varel

    This 165-foot water tower has been supplying the residents of Varel with drinking water for more than a century.

  • Anclote Key, Florida

    Anclote Key Lighthouse

    Though it may look like it’s missing its outer shell, this skeletal cast-iron tower was built to withstand wind and waves.

  • Portomarín, Spain

    Old Portomarín

    This stop on the Camino de Santiago stands high above the underwater ruins of a medieval town.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.