Downtown in Fresno in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Fresno Water Tower
An American Water Landmark
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 19, 2011
1. The Fresno Water Tower Marker
Designed by architect George S. Mayer of Chicago, Illinois. It was completed in November 1894, replacing two wooden tanks erected on this site in 1887. The Tower stands 100 feet high with a tank capacity of 250,000 gallons. This facility, modeled after the Chicago Water Tower of 1867, was designed to house the Fresno City Library on the 2nd and 3rd levels. The brick walls are of double construction, from one to two feet thick, with a space of three feet between them.
Fresno Water Tower
Landmark No. 17
1972
Significant in the history
of public water supply
Erected 1966 by City of Fresno and American Water Works Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1894.
Location. 36° 44.355′ N, 119° 47.237′ W. Marker is in Fresno, California, in Fresno County. It is in Downtown. It is on Fresno Street near O Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2444 Fresno Street, Fresno CA 93721, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Church-Sperry Mill and Mill Ditch (here, next to this marker); George M. Bowman (here, next to this marker); Fresno Corridor of Flags Veterans Memorial (within
this page online
Also see . . . Old Fresno Water Tower. (Submitted on March 23, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by Lester J Letson, August 30, 2010
2. An American Water Landmark
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 19, 2011
3. The Fresno Water Tower AWWA Marker Detail
Photographed by Mandy Kirby
4. The Fresno Water Tower Marker
Photographed by Mandy Kirby
5. The Fresno Water Tower Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 19, 2011
6. The Fresno Water Tower Marker
Right side of entry
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., March 19, 2011
7. The Old Fresno Water Tower
Photographed by Lester J Letson, February 4, 2009
8. Over 100 year old Wooden Ladder inside The Fresno Water Tower
This ladder leads to the bottom of the water tank inside the Water Tower building. The lower part of the building was used for other purposes, the water was stored in the tank above.
Photographed by Unknown, circa 1906
9. The Fresno Water Tower with the Church-Sperry Mill in Background
This photo hangs inside the Water Tower visitor center. It is dated 1906 and shows the Water Tower and the Mill that sat next door. The Eaton Plaza amphitheater now sits on the site of the old mill.
Photographed by Lester J Letson, May 19, 2013
10. Inside the Wall of The Fresno Water Tower
The main wall is 8 bricks thick as is the supporting wall along the base. There is an airspace about 4 feet wide between the inner wall and outer wall. The second supporting wall was needed because of the immense weight of the water in the tower above.
Photographed by Lester J Letson, May 9, 2013
11. A Wave from Inside the Wall of The Fresno Water Tower
A member of a local historical society waves from the porthole window in the wall of the water tower.
Photographed by Mandy Kirby
12. The Fresno Water Tower Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 23, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,914 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 23, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on September 19, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 3. submitted on March 23, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on January 4, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California. 6, 7. submitted on March 23, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 8, 9. submitted on September 19, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 10, 11. submitted on October 29, 2013, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. 12. submitted on January 4, 2019, by Mandy Kirby of Clovis, California.
