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No Ordinary Water Tower <br />Imagine this 15-story tower standing on the hill in front <br />of you—its ornamented spire rising high above the trees, <br />hard to miss, even from miles away. Copied from a <br />centuries-old Spanish bell tower, this electrified beacon <br />not only astounded visitors with its great height and <br />exotic appearance, it also held the island’s water supply. <br />Ex <br />c <br />e <br />l <br />s <br />i <br />o <br />r <br />- <br />L <br />a <br />k <br />e <br /> <br />M <br />i <br />n <br />n <br />e <br />t <br />o <br />n <br />k <br />a <br /> <br />H <br />i <br />s <br />t <br />o <br />r <br />i <br />c <br />a <br />l <br /> <br />S <br />o <br />c <br />i <br />e <br />t <br />y <br />Br <br />o <br />c <br />h <br />u <br />r <br />e <br /> <br />d <br />e <br />t <br />a <br />i <br />l <br />, <br /> <br />E <br />x <br />c <br />e <br />l <br />s <br />i <br />o <br />r <br />- <br />L <br />a <br />k <br />e <br /> <br />M <br />i <br />n <br />n <br />e <br />t <br />o <br />n <br />k <br />a <br /> <br />H <br />i <br />s <br />t <br />o <br />r <br />i <br />c <br />a <br />l <br /> <br />S <br />o <br />c <br />i <br />e <br />t <br />y <br />LAKE <br />MINNETONKA <br />LANDING <br />STAIRS <br />BIG <br />ISLAND <br />N <br />S <br />EW <br />YOU AREHERE <br />ROLLERCOASTER <br />AMUSEMENTSBUILDINGS <br />MUSICCASINO <br />WATERTOWER <br />BATHROOM <br />BATHROOM <br />PICNICKITCHEN <br />PICNICKITCHEN <br />DOCKS <br />BOATHOUSE <br />ICE HOUSE <br />MEN’SDORMITORY <br />WOMEN’SDORMITORY <br />DANCEPAVILION <br />MYSTICCHUTE <br />The tower’s ornate exterior concealed a large water <br />tank that delivered running water to bathrooms and <br />kitchens across the island. The well beneath the tower <br />provided water to the island for nearly a century after <br />the structure was demolished. <br />This 1908 brochure promised visitors an <br />unforgettable spectacle of lights and activity. <br />Promoters described an “Electric Tower” that <br />could light the entire expanse of water between <br />here and the Excelsior docks, two miles away. <br />We <br />s <br />t <br />o <br />n <br />k <br />a <br /> <br />H <br />i <br />s <br />t <br />o <br />r <br />i <br />c <br />a <br />l <br /> <br />S <br />o <br />c <br />i <br />e <br />t <br />y <br />Early visitors to the park saw the tower’s thin <br />steel frame before it was clad in stucco—its solid <br />appearance only an illusion. The tower stood until <br />1918, when it was toppled by crews salvaging steel <br />for use in World War I. <br />Big Island Park <br />1906–1911 <br />Big Island Veterans Camp <br />1921–2003