Chicago Water Tower

1:500 scale miniature paper model, about 3.75 inches tall when built

The Water Tower was designed by William W. Boyington in 1869 to house the 138-foot standpipe used to pressurize the city's water supply. Just two years later, the little tower miraculously survived the Great Chicago Fire, although an entire third of the city around it was destroyed. Since that time its preservation has come to symbolize the city's perseverance and ambition.

A 1:400 scale version of this model is printed in the book American Landmarks: Miniature Models to Cut and Assemble

Read more:

• The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory, at the Chicago Historical Society
• Chicago Tribune article about the Great Chicago Fire
• The Water Tower's crenellations inspired the design of early White Castle restaurants
• Watertowers of the World: members.tripod.com/~watertowers