Brainerd's Historic Water Tower -
Brainerd, Minnesota has a historic water tower, the
first of its kind in the United States. Residents of
the Brainerd Lakes Country see it often but frequently
don't give it a second thought. But when I began visiting
the Brainerd Lakes Area many years ago that was the
first man made feature which fetched my attention. Here
is the story of this majestic landmark.
The very first all concrete elevated tank water tower
constructed by a city in the United States graces downtown
Brainerd, Minnesota, located at 6th and Washington Streets.
Built from 1919 until 1922 it is on the "National
Register of Historic Places", and justifiably so.
The tower, which is an important part of the identity
of Brainerd, was decommissioned in 1960, but still remains
as a beacon to visitors and locals alike.
The legend of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox is an
important part of our heritage. Some residents speculated
that this water tower was actually Paul Bunyan's golf
tee or flashlight. Whether you believe that or not,
take the time to visit this architectural wonder. It
truly is a marvel to be appreciated.
To enjoy photos of this unique tower's construction
you need only visit this site for the Crow Wing County
Historical Society: http://crowwinghistory.org/brainerd_water_tower_gallery.html
This is an amazing tower and landmark. Remember, come
to Brainerd Lakes Country for awhile, come for a lifetime!
We have it all, history, trails, forests, lakes, recreation,
shopping, great food, beautiful golf courses, and most
of all, wonderful people. The Brainerd Lakes Country
is as close to heaven as you can find on Planet Earth,
and oh yes, we have the world's largest golf tee.
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