This is the Highland Park Water Tower, located just a few blocks to the north of where I live. "What is wonderful about a silly water tower" you ask?

Built in 1928, it stands at an elevation of 1,023 feet-the second highest point in the city. The tower was designed by Clarence W. Wigington b.1883-d.1967, Minnesota's first African-American registered architect and the first African-American municipal architect in the USA.

Mr. Wigington built this 127 foot tall, octagonal, brick-and-cut-stone structure adjacent to a twenty-eight million gallon capacity reservoir. A 151 step circular staircase surrounds a 200,000 gallon tank and leads to an observation deck. The Highland Park Water Tower continues to serve St. Paul as a water storage facility, a recognizable landmark, and a wonderful place from which to view the city.