Highlands in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Rockford Tower

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, November 7, 2008

1. Rockford Tower Marker

Inscription. In 1895, Theodore Leisen, engineer for the Wilmington Board of Park Commissioners, recommended that "a large pavilion and observatory" be built in Rockford Park on what was called Mt. Salem Hill, the highest point in the city at 330 feet above sea level. His proposal coincided with the Board of Water Commissioners' conclusion that Wilmington was in need of a new water tower in that neighborhood. The two boards merged their projects in Rockford Tower. Built between 1899 and 1902, the half-million-gallon water storage tank and observatory is constructed of natural field stone and is an example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. Rockford Tower is 57 feet in diameter at the base, 75 feet high to the floor of the observatory, and reaches a total height of 115 feet.

Erected 2000 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-110.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. 39° 46.034′ N, 75° 34.475′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Highlands. Marker can be reached from Lookout Drive, 0.1 miles

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west of Tower Drive, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in Rockford Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2000 Lookout Dr, Wilmington DE 19806, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Looking Back… (here, next to this marker); William Marriott Canby Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Samuel Francis Du Pont (about 600 feet away); William Poole Bancroft Memorial (about 600 feet away); Mount Salem United Methodist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Henry Clay Village (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gibraltar (approx. 0.4 miles away); du Pont Powder Mills (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Rockford Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, November 7, 2008

2. Rockford Tower

Photographed By Stephen J Duncan, September 20, 2010

3. Rockford Tower

Rockford Tower Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, November 7, 2008

4. Rockford Tower Cornerstone

Rockford Tower Door image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Stephen J Duncan, April 26, 2009

5. Rockford Tower Door

Some recent remodeling done to the tower

Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,811 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 15, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on September 23, 2010, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware. 4. submitted on November 15, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 5. submitted on September 23, 2010, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware.