NYC Water Tower Walking Tour
Description
For over 100 years, wooden water towers have stood tall above New York City as emblems of ingenuity and resiliency. With simple, elegant craftsmanship, these iconic structures offer not only a practical solution, but have transformed the landscape of the city and inspired artists for generations. Join us on the NYC Water Tower Tour to explore the wonder.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We'll begin on the High Line near 23rd Street, viewing wooden water towers and discussing their important role in NYC's growth, how they work and ways they have been incorporated as a symbol of NYC. As we move along the route, we'll view examples and discuss the impact of water towers on architecture and design. Next we'll look at a variety of art inspired by and depicting water towers over the last century. On the 10th Avenue overlook, we'll discover unusual and creative uses for water towers and a learn about a beloved NYC visitor who became a water tower enthusiast. As we snake through the Manhattan West plaza, we'll discuss the maintenance and life cycle of water towers, and innovate efforts promoting sustainability.
We'll enter Moynihan Train Hall for a special water tower viewing and reflect on their role in the lore of New York City. The tour's finale is on the steps of Moynihan Train Hall at 8th Avenue & 33rd Street. We'll discuss many other notable water towers around the city and each traveler will receive the exclusive NYC Water Tower Tours Map.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(13)
I learned so much and really enjoyed meeting the guide - and getting to spend time on the High Line was also great!
We had a wonderful time on this tour (even though the weather refused to cooperate!) I can honestly say I will never see those ubiquitous NYC water towers the same way again. Our guide, Abby Ross, was incredibly passionate about what she does and exceptionally well-informed. She did a fantastic job of moving beyond just the mechanics, making great cultural and historical connections that kept both of us engaged. It was a very insightful experience from start to finish. I’d recommend this if you're looking for a unique and educational outing with a small group.
So fun and informative and enjoyable, highly recommend!
I went into this tour without any prior knowledge and only a passing interest in water towers & Abby had me locked in from the very first minute. The tour is meticulously researched, thoughtfully put together, and well-paced throughout. Abby is such an engaging guide, and pointed out a number of things that I would have never in a million years thought to look for on my own. I left with a genuine appreciation for water towers and a new perspective on NYC history. I can't wait to recommend this tour to both local friends and visitors.
Abby's knowledge about the iconic water towers is amazing. As a professional photographer I've photographed over 200 water towers and I thought I knew it all. Not even close to what I learned after taking Abby's tour. She packs in a lot of information in 90 minutes.
Abby was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable! She was a fantastic tour guide. I went from not knowing anything about water towers to now having a great appreciation for them. The tour makes you look at New York’s landscape with a new perspective. I highly recommend this tour if you enjoy learning more about the city.
I really want this review to be as thoughtful, witty, and informative as the tour itself, but I don’t think my words can quite do it justice. As a native New Yorker, I was genuinely surprised to find myself noticing things about this city that I’ve walked past hundreds of times and never truly seen. Abby has a gift for bringing together history, humor, storytelling, and observation in a way that makes familiar streets feel entirely new. While I left with knowledge, leaving with a sense of curiosity that lingers well beyond the tour is over is the thing you’ll have to just experience yourself! Well done.
Water Towers are such a NYC experience. I enjoyed seeing what I look at everyday in a new way. Abby was able to point out things I never noticed.
I can honestly say that I saw water towers but never ‘saw’ them. Now I will always see them! Abby’s genuine love for the city is showcased in her enthusiastic, researched approach to sharing this overlooked iconography, which seems to resonate with something deeper. After participating in this tour, I am confident that your perspective on the city and these iconic symbols will change—all because you looked up for a moment.
I wasn't sure how interesting a tour about New York City's water towers could be, but I was more than pleasantly surprised! The history, engineering, and technology behind these iconic structures are fascinating, and now I find myself spotting them everywhere around the city! Abby was our guide and she clearly loves her towers and engaged us in a fun and passionate way. Highly recommend... you won't be disappointed!
