The El Con Water Tower is located near Randolph Way and Broadway. (Across from the El Con Mall.) This water tower was built in 1928 to serve the developing Colonia Solana neighborhood. When the water tower was first put up in is was just a standard steel water tower.
The Colonia Solana neighborhood wanted something less unsightly. The developer of the neighborhood hired Tucson architect Roy Place to design an enclosure. In 1932, an ornate structure of chicken wire and plaster was built to hide the tank.
In 1980, the El Con Water Tower was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1994, the water tower was restored at the cost of $70,000 according to the City of Tucson Office of Integrated Planning.
In March 2017 the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, opens a new window sponsored a tour of the interior of the water tower. Photos by local photographer A.T. Willett are posted to Facebook album An exclusive sneak peak inside the iconic El Con Water Tower today, opens a new window.
Sources:
“Tower’s top restored.” Arizona Daily Star. October 28, 2008. Page B3.
Stewart, Michele. “What’s with that?, opens a new window” Arizona Daily Star. January 25, 2002. Page F4.
History of El Con Water Tower makes it Absolutely Arizona kgun9.com, July 13, 2020.
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