Compton Hill Water Tower

We came here on one of the full moon nights that they are open. It was pretty busy but we were able to walk right up. But when you finally reach the top, it is very crowded a lot of photographers have their equipment set up in the little windows so it’s hard to get a view. The view you could see it great. The trip up is terrifying for me at least the narrow walkway, and it all seemed too rickety. Also the steps when you leave the tower on the outside are dark, I fell on the last couple. They really need to put a light in.

Methinks the pictures say enough. A great landmark in STL (read the history on some of the other reviews here) … and perfect for a picnic or to wow out-​of-​towners with cool architecture and history.
Oh yeah, and it’s open on Full Moons, so do that.

Went there last night for the full moon opening to the top of the tower with a friend whom was interested in getting some pictures of the beautiful architecture. They had some fun food trucks there and the line while long quickly moved to get those people inside to some lovely views from each level.

The first Saturday of every month, or when there is a full moon, dedicated St. Louisans troop over to the tower at the park on 44 and Grand, dig in their pockets for a fiver, sign the guest log, and hoof it up 192 narrow and winding steps to the head of this tower, where they are treated to a (I wanna say breathtaking, but I think that might be a slight exaggeration) view of St. Louis.
Well, you are treated to a view of St. Louis if you get there super early. If you are, say, the fifth person there? Too bad, so sad, you get a breathtaking view of some asshole commandeering the window with his Member’s Only jacket and unnecessarily hefty camera tripod and a telephoto lens that would make John Hinckley, Jr. weep.
If you, too, would like to scratch Compton Hill Water Tower off your bucket list, here is my advice:
–Get there early. Like earlier than a half hour before it starts. You want to make sure to get there BEFORE the photography Meetup does. Cuz those photographers be DICKS and just camped out in front of all the windows like they OWNED them.
–Don’t go in August. I speculate that going up all those stairs and being in that confined place would be awful in August.
–Go on a night when there is a very important baseball game going on. It wasn’t that crowded. Only passed two or three people going up or down the stairs. Very tight squeeze to get by people. Can’t imagine if it were busier.
–Take advantage of reading the information and pictures they have on each of seven landings before the top. This is great camouflage for the fact that you are catching your breath/​trying to suppress a heart attack.
–Worth doing once, and really not that strenuous, as long as you aren’t humping 75 pounds of camera gear to the top.
–Would probably make a romantic date, but there is a very fine line between «what a romantic date!» and «I just had a claustrophobia-​induced panic attack simultaneously while having a climbing 50 million stairs heart attack».
Very hard to appreciate something being rare when you don’t really get what it is that makes it special. It’s like my nephew’s refrigerator drawings versus a Monet. This place is the Monet of water towers. It’s special, one of only 7 left in the country, but I don’t see or appreciate the difference that makes it so special. In my mind, it just looks like a penis with a bayonette on it. It’s okay if you’re judging me right now. I judge you for pretending to think this place is cool.
Highlight of this was getting to see over the wall at what was inside the reservoir thing.
Second highlight was: «I don’t meant to sound dumb or anything, but the moon really IS rising!!!»
If you go here on a date, be sure to research fun facts about the moon and St. Louis ahead of time. Believe me, I wish I had, especially when someone asked me why the moon rises and I only kinda knew the answer.

Brian M’s review pretty much covered everything you need to know so look over there for more info. But this place is cool! It’s open at night until 11pm on nights of the full moon. The climb up isn’t too bad, and they do a good job of putting construction pictures on the inside walls to look at as you go up. Once you arrive at the top, you’ll be 180 ft up, with a good view of clayton, downtown, CWE. It’s only one of 7 left in the country, and definitely worth a trip up – admission $ 5 a person, but it goes to restoration of the tower, since the city doesn’t give them money to take care of it.
Pros: great view of city, something different to do
Cons: only open a few nights a month — check website for hours

The Compton Hill Water Tower is a truly unique destination in Saint Louis, as it is one of only seven surviving water towers in the United States with two others also located in Saint Louis. The tower It was built in 1898 and actually the youngest of the other three water towers located in Saint Louis and stands 179ft tall. The tower itself is open for visitors for a small donation select weekends during the summer. This is quite possibly one of the best views of the entire Saint Louis area. From the top you can see Clayton, the Central West End, and downtown. If you play your cards right and time it you can even catch the Gateway Geyser in the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park located directly across from the Arch in East St. Louis erupting to 630ft, a real visual treat from the top of the water tower.
The inside stairwells are somewhat narrow, and it does get warm inside during the summer months so be advised.
Check the web site for the schedule and stop on by, you will be glad you did.

What makes this a site worth visiting? It’s a unique, beautiful, rare and inexpensive look at what is, in many ways, utterly common. Built in 1898, the tower surrounds a 100-​ft tall standpipe (an infrastructural feature needed in the late 1800s/​early 1900s to regulate pressure in the City’s water system), with a welcome, unnecessary bit of flourish. Climbing the tower today is a small adventure behind one of the City’s many locked doors from an era long past.
While Compton Hill Water Tower won’t make many short lists of places to visit in St. Louis, it’s worth adding to the long list. There are few places like this left in America.
Between Jason Q and the additions from Mary Kate A., review-​wise, this historical/​architectural site has been covered really well. The must-​knows continue to be:
Admission… $ 5/​adult.
Opening Dates and Hours… See Website. (It’s typically the 1^st Saturday of the month during spring, summer and fall months).
ADA Compliance… NOT Compliant; the site is unfortunately not handicap accessible. The only way to ascend the tower is via a spiral staircase with 198 steps. It’s worth noting that there are some landings along the way and taking one’s time is encouraged, but even still, to enjoy this attraction, be prepared to climb.
Attraction time…
45 minutes: Climbing the tower stairs at a consistent pace and returning to the ground similarly. Some viewing time from the top, but not a ton.
90 minutes: A casual climb with plenty of time allowed to relax at the top and take in the views.
A few additional tips:
1) The park is very convenient to a number of other attractions, so making it a stop on a mini-​tour is easy. Tower Grove Park is close by, as are the shops and restaurants along South Grand.
2) Transit, in the form of the 70 Grand bus line, is available.
3) The windows at the top of the tower can be opened to allow for better views/​undistorted photographs. Ask the volunteer for assistance.
4) In addition to the regular, daytime openings, there are also nighttime sessions as well during full moons. Check the tower’s website for details on when these will be.
5) There are a few photographs on the interior walls of the tower, as well as books with historic images at the top. Binoculars may also be available for loan at the top of the tower, but you’ll want to bring your own optics + cameras if you have them.
6) Stools and steps are available at the top of the climb so that kids can see out of the windows too.
Compton Hill Water Tower continues to be supported by The Water Tower and Park Preservation Society, in collaboration with the City of St. Louis.

Beautiful park and tower. I see it from school at SLU everyday and I’m always intrigued by the whimsical architecture that sets it apart from everything around it. Thus, I was super excited when I found out that I could actually go up certain days of the month. It’s run by friendly folks from the neighborhood association who will welcome you at the top and offer binoculars.
The top has a great bird’s eye view, but of course this is not Chicago or New York, so don’t plan on being impressed by much of a city skyline except for the arch in the distance. Still, it’s worth the $ 5 to go up and contemplate life and stuff.

Always a great place to walk and think.

Jason Q. basically hit all of what needed to be said in his review. Honestly, it is the best view of the city. Better than the Arch even, in my opinion. I went up in it this the first weekend I moved to STL last June. I moved right across the street from it actually.
It is the active reservoir still to all of South City. The actual tower is no longer active, and isn’t actually a water tower at all, but a pipe tower that helped with pressure.
The tower is open the 1^st Saturday of every month between April through November, and closed winter months. The cost to go in is $ 5 cash or check.

What takes 198 stairs to climb, rises 170-​feet and and has THE best 360-​degree view of the metropolitan St. Louis area that stretches as far as Illinois and the Jefferson? Is it The Arch?
No. Its the Compton Hill Water Tower!
Did you know you can inside and up to the top of this one?
These tall behemoths struck me as odd when I moved to St. Louis. I had never seen them before and with good reason. They are rare. Apparently, this one is one of only seven surviving such towers in the United States (two others are also in St. Louis), and was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places around 1972.
It sits in Reservoir Park, surrounded by this large, naked statue, adjacent to, a lily pond, fountain and walking paths. Oh, there is a dog park too!
So, yes. this has the best view. It’s only open on the first Saturday of the month. Panoramic views to say the least. The Arch just isn’t that great because one view is the great city and the other is a grain tower on Illinois side.
Bring good shoes. Strike up a conversation with the preservationist board members who are probably running the tower and answering questions. If you ever wondered whats in those water reservoirs next door, now you can see from the top of the tower.
Just remember its usually first Saturday of the month roughly April to October. Check their website. Walking up and inside this is like a hot tub time machine.