If you’ve ever strolled across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge — the iconic, gently bending Mississippi River crossing that once carried Route 66 between Illinois and Missouri — you’ve likely noticed two mysterious stone structures rising from the currents just downstream. From a distance, they almost look like miniature medieval fortresses or whimsical river palaces. But these water intake towers aren’t relics of fairy tales — they’re enduring monuments to early 20th-century engineering and the development of modern urban water systems. As St. Louis boomed in the late 1800s, so did demand for a reliable, clean drinking water supply. The Chain of Rocks — a naturally turbulent stretch of the Mississippi with exposed rock formations — was chosen as the site for new waterworks because the flow there brought relatively clearer water into reach. In 1894, the first intake tower (now called Intake Tower #1) was constructed just off the Missouri shore. Designed by architect William S. Eames in a Richardsonian Romanesque style, this oval stone structure with its distinctive green conical roof resembled a river-borne fortress.
As the population continued to surge into the early 1900s, one tower couldn’t keep up. So in 1915, a second tower — Intake Tower #2 — was added farther out in the river. Designed by the firm Roth & Study, it echoes classical design, often likened to a Roman villa, and even housed living quarters for workers who once maintained operations around the clock. These towers were more than architectural curiosities — they were vital parts of the city’s water system. Large intake pipes and gates within the towers drew Mississippi River water deep down into underground tunnels that led to the Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant onshore. From there, the water was processed, filtered, and sent into distribution systems that reached neighborhoods across the region. For many years, crews lived and worked inside the towers to monitor the gates and maintain constant service — a demanding job that sometimes kept workers stationed in the river for days at a time.
Today, the towers stand as landmarks in St. Louis city and silent witnesses to a transformative era in public utilities. While newer, more automated intake systems have reduced their operational role, Tower #1 still periodically draws water, and Tower #2 sits ready as a backup. Both were designated city landmarks in 1971, preserved for their architectural beauty and engineering significance.
It was a dreary day when we hit this stop on our Route 66 Barstow to Chicago adventure, and just started to spit some rain, so we did not get a whole allot of time in this area. The famous Arches and the city of St. Louis can be seen on the horizon.
Thanks for stopping
