Pittsburgh’s 1937 water tower, once a park lookout, is set to reopen

A 102-foot water tower in Pittsburgh that once doubled as a park lookout is being brought back to life after more than three decades behind closed doors.

The North Park Observation Tower, built in 1937, is receiving a restoration led by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation and county officials. The project carries a budget of about $3.2 million and will repair the tower, improve its railings and reopen the 154-step spiral staircase.

Built during the Great Depression with assistance from the Works Progress Administration, the structure originally served as a 300,000-gallon water standpipe. It also offered visitors a high vantage point over the county park. Its open-air deck sits more than 1,300 feet above sea level and provides a 360-degree view of Pittsburgh’s North Hills, with Downtown Pittsburgh visible on clear days.

The viewing platform retains vintage terrazzo flooring decorated with astrological and directional designs, as well as a steel domed ceiling. Deterioration and changing safety requirements led authorities to close the tower late in the 20th century.

Engineering inspections found the main structure and core ironwork in good condition. Workers are making targeted metal repairs, upgrading the staircase and upper railings, and sandblasting the interior and exterior. Historical photographs will guide paint colours intended to match the tower’s original appearance. The surrounding grounds will also receive landscaping and accessibility improvements, with reopening anticipated by 2027.

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The project will restore one of North Park's most iconic landmarks while also transforming the surrounding site to improve accessibility, enhance visitor experience and expand opportunities for public use and community gathering.