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The Bissel Street Water Tower is a familiar historical landmark in Saint Louis, Mo. Located at Bissel Street and Blair Avenue, it is often referred to as the “Red Water Tower.”

It was erected in 1887 at a cost of $79,798 to augment its older companion on East Grand Avenue. It served as a standpipe to counter the water surge from the service pumps at Bissell Point Its appearance has been likened to a Moorish minaret and has influenced the architecture of the homes built around it. This 194 foot high tower was retired from service in 1912.

It was constructed of red brick, light gray stone and terra cotta and encloses an iron standpipe. The red tower’s construction cost was $79,798. Originally it contained a spiral staircase that led to a balcony at the top.

The Red Tower was renovated in the 1970s.

Old standpipe water towers were used over a century ago, before modern pumping methods. Steam-driven pumps were used to send water through the city. This method of pumping created large surges in pressure causing pipes to rattle and shake and low water pressure on the upper stories of homes. The large vertical pipes of the Water Towers allowed the water to rise and fall thus preventing surges and equalizing water pressure. Exterior towers were built to hide the standpipes for aesthetic reasons. Today the Standpipe Water Towers are obsolete and only seven remain in the United States. St. Louis has three of these: the Old White Tower, the Bissell Tower, and the Compton Hill Tower. All three have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since the early 1970s.