Here it stands. The Manassas Water Tower is a testament to a city’s growth. It marks Manassas’s transition from a small rural town to a modern city. This tower witnessed the planned infrastructure’s rise.
The Manassas Water Tower was built in 1914. Elevated steel water tanks became common landmarks during that era. Communities throughout the U.S. started building them in the 1890s. The Manassas Water Tower became a central component of the city’s first municipal waterworks. Its 75,000-gallon capacity provided community-wide fire protection through a pressurized system. Residents also enjoyed clean, abundant water.
At 147 feet tall, the Manassas Water Tower made a statement. The tower has a conical roof and a riveted steel tank. Its rounded bottom sits atop four lattice-channel posts. Diagonal tie rods add to its unique design.
The Manassas Water Tower is the oldest surviving public water tower in Northern Virginia. In 2016, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was also the first tower to be individually listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register.
Initially, there were concerns about the tower’s maintenance costs. Some city officials considered demolition. Maintaining the 100-year-old steel tank could have cost the city upward of $200,000. This included painting and inspections. Demolishing it would have cost $40,000.
City residents rallied to save the Manassas Water Tower. They considered it one of the last recognizable landmarks in the historic district. The city’s Architectural Review Board agreed. Councilman Jonathan Way emphasized the tower’s historic value.
Residents raised money for a study to add the tower to a registry of historic places. This opened doors to federal and state grant funding. Historic Manassas Inc. also helped with fundraising.
The Manassas Water Tower stands near one of the city’s original six water wells. It is one of only six water towers in Virginia with a hemispherical bottom. The Manassas Water Tower remains a symbol of the city’s progress. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our history.