Did you know the Navy Water Tower stands as a silent sentinel? It guards the remnants of a once-bustling naval complex. This tower is a tangible piece of New Orleans history. Its story stretches back to the early 1900s. It witnessed the rise and fall of a massive military installation.
The Navy Water Tower sits proudly overlooking the Mississippi River. It’s part of the former Naval Support Activity New Orleans. This complex originally served the US Army. It was constructed during World War I. The Army Quartermaster Depot built it in 1919. The complex was enormous. It covered both sides of the Mississippi River. It housed nearly 3900 active-duty personnel and 2700 civilians.
The Navy Water Tower also saw a different kind of service. After the naval complex was placed in maintenance status in June 1933. The Louisiana Emergency Relief Administration took over. It transformed the site into a transient camp. This camp offered shelter and work to almost 25,000 New Orleans residents during the Great Depression. They were given a role in the Navy. This was one of only three such camps in the entire United States.
The Navy Water Tower remained. It witnessed this transformation. It stood as a symbol of both military might and humanitarian aid. The camp closed in 1936. Later the site became the U S Naval Headquarters. Then in 1966 it was renamed Naval Support Activity New Orleans. It remained a significant military base. It served as the national headquarters for the Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve.
The Navy Water Tower’s role ended in 2011. The Navy vacated the site. The base closed due to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. The tower remains. It’s a lasting monument to the naval complex’s eventful past. It now silently observes the changing skyline of New Orleans. The Navy Water Tower silently stands. It holds a history few know about. It quietly recalls a time of war and peace. A time of hardship and resilience. A time when the Navy’s presence was significant to the city of New Orleans. Today the Navy Water Tower stands. It waits for a new chapter in its long story.