These two iconic structures are the only ones in the world, and they are in these two small Minnesota towns. 

Today a cold glass of water is only as far as the kitchen sink. There was a time when that wasn't the case.

Historic Minnesota Water Towers in Pipestone and Brainerd - Ben Davis
Historic Minnesota Water Towers in Pipestone and Brainerd - Ben Davis
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Water Towers became a big deal in the evolution of Minnesota metropolitan towns early on.

And there are no two water towers in Minnesota and maybe the whole world that are as iconic as these structures in Brainerd and Pipestone.

Brainerd to Pipestone Minnesota - Google Maps
Brainerd to Pipestone Minnesota - Google Maps
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While Brainerd and Pipestone are 240 miles apart they share the designation of having the only two water towers of this type to ever be built.

These historic all-concrete sister water towers were designed by architect L.P. Wolfe in the early 1900s.

Brainerd’s water tower was built over a four-year period from 1919 to 1922.

Historic Water Tower Brainerd Minnesota-Ben Davis
Historic Water Tower Brainerd Minnesota-Ben Davis
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While Pipestone's tower construction was completed in 1920 by the Campbell Construction Company at a cost of $24,610.

Historic Water Tower Pipestone Minnesota - Ben Davis
Historic Water Tower Pipestone Minnesota - Ben Davis
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According to the Brainerd Dispatch, “Brainerd's tower was erected after World War I and was one of the first constructed with poured-in-place concrete,and it was built to the design specifications of St. Paul engineer L. P. Wolff. It served continuously until 1958.”

Brainerd's tower at 141 feet tall was in service until 1958 and held around 300,000 gallons of water.

Brainerd, Minnesota Watertower-Getty Thinkstock
Brainerd, Minnesota Watertower-Getty Thinkstock
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Pipestone's water tower is 140 feet tall with a capacity of 150,000 gallons and served the community continuously until 1973.

Every year Pipestone celebrates this wonderful historic landmark with an annual Water Tower Festival.

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