NYC Water Tower Tours

For over 100 years, wooden water towers have stood tall above New York City as emblems of ingenuity and resiliency. With simple, elegant craftsmanship, these iconic structures offer not only a practical solution, but have transformed the landscape of the city and inspired artists for generations.

Over 15,000 wooden water towers sit atop buildings in New York City. An undisputed anchor of the skyline, these essential and familiar structures are often overlooked or misunderstood. Join us for a celebration of these New York City icons.

• Learn how they work, their role in the city’s growth, and why they continue to be relevant today.

• See water towers in art & architecture through the decades.

• Reflect on water towers as a symbol of NYC.

• Keep exploring with our Look Up, New York Water Tower Map.