Let me show you an observation point that New Yorkers visit when they want to avoid touristy neighborhoods and places from travel guides. For me, discovering such unusual spots is also a way to explore the city on foot — so here comes another fun and useful adventure.
The Tower That Once Supplied All of New York with Water
The High Bridge Water Tower was built in 1872. Standing 61 meters (200 feet) tall, it originally held a massive water tank at the top, which supplied the city with water in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The water arrived via the High Bridge — and this was no ordinary bridge. It is the oldest bridge in New York City, even older than the Brooklyn Bridge.
A Bridge Without Cars — But Full of History
Fun fact: no car has ever driven across this bridge. Until 2015, it was completely closed — and only recently reopened for pedestrians.
Why? Because the High Bridge was part of an aqueduct system inspired by Ancient Rome. Water pipes ran across the bridge, delivering water from natural sources in upstate New York straight into the city.
To make the water flow on its own, without pumps, workers in 1842 manually (!) dug a 42-kilometer (26-mile) tunnel, 2.3 meters wide. Its slope was just 18 centimeters per kilometer — but that was enough for water to travel by gravity all the way to New York. In other words, the delivery service for every gallon of water was none other than Miss Gravity herself.
This ambitious project of supplying the city with clean drinking water became a key factor in New York’s rapid industrial and economic growth in the second half of the 19th century. Without it, the city might never have become a global metropolis.
Tours with Park Rangers
With the development of modern technology, the tower lost its purpose in 1949 and remained closed for decades — until it was reopened to the public in 2021. Today, tours are led by real New York City Parks Department rangers.
Why Visit
- One of the most atmospheric viewpoints in the city — quiet, historic, and with stunning views
- A place where tourist buses don’t go
- A chance to literally touch a 19th-century engineering marvel
Useful Information
Address: Highbridge Water Tower / Amsterdam Ave & West 173rd St, Highbridge Park, New York, NY 10033
Ticket price: Free or $8.34 during special events
