Earthoid Water Tower

Painted like a giant blue marble, the Earthoid Water Tower dominates the skyline here in Germantown. This isn’t just any water tower. It’s a two-million-gallon reservoir and a unique piece of art. The Earthoid Water Tower was built in 1978 for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. But its story truly began in 1980. Montgomery College students were given a unique challenge. They got to design the exterior of the newly-built water tower on their campus. They voted to transform it into a replica of Earth, as seen from space. They affectionately nicknamed it the “Earthoid”. The college commissioned artist Peter Freudenberg for the job. He was known for his work on similar spherical projects. Freudenberg meticulously used a National Geographic globe and satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He painstakingly recreated the continents, oceans, and swirling clouds on a massive scale. This artistic endeavor took two months to complete. The result was a breathtaking and educational landmark. The Earthoid Water Tower has received a fresh coat of paint since then. It continues to stand as a symbol of environmental awareness, especially on Earth Day. It even won the “Steel Tank of the Year” award from the Steel Plate Fabricators Association. Pictures of this extraordinary water tower have graced numerous magazines. This gigantic globe is more than just a water tank. It’s a testament to student ingenuity, artistic vision, and environmental consciousness.