Overview

Affectionately known as the "Witch’s Hat," the Prospect Park Water Tower is a unique visual landmark in the neighborhood. 

• Location: 55 Malcolm Avenue Southeast
• Neighborhood: Prospect Park

Historic profile

Affectionately known as the "Witch’s Hat," the Prospect Park Water Tower is a unique visual landmark in the neighborhood.

The Prospect Park neighborhood is close to the railroad and near the University of Minnesota. In the early 1900s, there was a building boom in this area. Homeowners were concerned about the possibility of industrial development. They also lacked consistent water pressure. With some effort, they convinced the City to build a water tower in Tower Hill Park. Retaining the park helped prevent the expansion of industry and keep the residential character of the area.

The water tower stands at the highest elevation in Minneapolis at nearly 1,000 feet above sea level. City engineer F.W. Cappelen designed the water tower. It has a steel standpipe with a holding capacity of 150,000 gallons of water. The exterior is made of reinforced concrete. The tower in total is 371 feet tall.

Prospect Park Water Tower has a steeply pitched green tile roof. An open octagonal Romanesque-arched belvedere surrounds the tower top. This medieval design was popular for utilitarian structures during the early 1900s. The water tower served the neighborhood until 1952 when technology had advanced and it was no longer needed. It was later used by the City to store radio communication equipment.