The impossible water tower beauty standards

Water towers: Why, how, where… Why again? Today we dive into why water towers exist and how they’ve changed over the past 150 years. I go ON LOCATION to Volunteer Park and walk up a water tower to better understand what is happening and why this brick building was designed for looks in 1906.
Support my Patreon so I can make more videos like this one! The ranking water tower video will be out tomorrow (Apr 19).
/ kendragaylord
Sources:
Steel Water Towers Associated with South Dakota Water Systems, 1894-1967 from the South Dakota State Historic Preservation
history.sd.gov/preservation/d...
Volunteer Park water tower, 1925 from the Seattle Municipal Archives
www.flickr.com/photos/seattle...
Ryan Gosling Variety Article by Ramin Setoodeh
variety.com/2024/film/feature...
Chicago House Wrecking Company, 1904 from The Catalog Blog
www.thecatalogblog.com/2019/10...
Seattle’s Highest Hills
www.fink.com/bicycling/hills....
Water Tower, Pump, and Power House Designs - 1893 Engineering Record
archive.org/details/cu3192403...
The Fire of 1879 Deadwood, South Dakota
www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=183179
Living New Deal: Water supply sites from the WPA and PWA
livingnewdeal.org/new-deal-ca...
Minnesota Water Towers
www.minnesotawatertowers.com/...
Rochester, MN Ear of Corn Water Tower
www.experiencerochestermn.com...
The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Fan Club
www.catsupbottle.com/
South Carolina’s Peachoid in Roadside America
www.roadsideamerica.com/story...
Peach economy in Georgia, South Carolina, and California
theconversation.com/peaches-a...
New York City Water Towers: NYC History & Explanation - American Pipe and Tank
blog.americanpipeandtank.com/...
18 million people served by water systems with lead violations in 2015, report says from PBS Newshour
www.pbs.org/newshour/health/1...
Flooding, treatment plant failure leaves Jackson, Mississippi without drinking water from PBS Newshour
www.pbs.org/newshour/show/flo...

[@kendragaylord]

I rank a bunch of water towers (including the ones in Ypsilanti + Florence) on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/kendragaylord

[@circleinforthecube5170]

the modern spheroid water towers looks as good as the old ones imo, they have some sort of futuristic frutiger aero vibe to them and act as canvases for the entire town, which in my opinion has its own charm, also those bare-iron towers look cool aswell, also having grown up near ypsilanti i wouldn't call that thing better looking than any modern tower and its frustrating to hear the more expressive and nicer modern towers referred to as "kitsch", it doesen't feel very artistically expressive if we designed everything to look like the same old timey building, hell some of the more "kitschy" towers blast some old 1800s towers like that one in ypsilanti out of the water tower, and they also dont look like whatever ypsilanti looks like that i cant say on youtube

[@AMPProf]

Farts are also topics

[@AMPProf]

star with insert subject here and.... Hmmm WE got ryan out he looks bord

[@BGPhilbin]

Yay! I came down to the comments to mention my home town of Ypsilanti, MI! I was raised there & went to college there (born in California and live there now, as well). However, while we always internally joked about our locally famous water tower, it wasn't until the Internet came along and dubbed it the "world's most phallic building" that it became world famous. It's seriously a weird-looking building, but it has a place in the hearts of millions now. Glad you noticed it!

[@johnpurdum8127]

Florence Y'all! That one always makes me chuckle circleville Ohio has a pumpkin

[@kikikrazed]

big day for water tower fans

[@dorkchops]

we're eating good today💅✨

[@carriewagner9595]

This is why I love KZbin niches so much. Where else am I going to get this quality content?!

[@BadgerOfTheSea]

It seems (to me at least) that the the next age of the Education side of KZbin (EduTube) is specialty niches. We have Kendra talking about architecture, Oceanliner Designs talking about ship building, Angela Collier talking about physics, Tibees talking about Maths, Miniminuteman talking about archeology etc etc etc. The age of 5 hour long video essays from a layman is coming to an end and the age of short but accurate information from passionate people who actually work in that field is on the rise.

[@pedecadonstudios714]

​@BadgerOfTheSea i prefer a lecture. Theres Still a place for em.

[@flying_potato2]

​@@BadgerOfTheSeayou forgot practical engineering - he does hydrodynamics and civil engineering. Theres a really good video on his channel about water towers from an engineer's perspective and I found it really informative even if it isn't as in-depth as this one

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

666 likes. Oh my 👿

[@aselvadeasfalto]

I feel seen.

[@stellviahohenheim]

ohh 69

[@kalka1l]

Have you found the sweet life?

[@JoshuaR.Collins]

You are seen, and tour are loved

[@elis9793]

"Oh my god, yes. Gravity. From earlier." I love your style, as well as the way you subtly and expertly deliver jokes and one liners. You are truly a gem on this platform.

[@nenben8759]

her cadence and pace of information and a little bit the humor reminds me of ask a mortician

[@redstonerelic]

​@@nenben8759Yea, I do get that vibe lol

[@katiedert]

dry delivery par excellence

[@whocares_bear]

@@nenben8759 Same

[@literarynick]

You're kind of filling an emotional void that was left by Tom Scott's departure from KZbin. Can you maybe start traveling all over the world to bring cool and bizarre factoids' to me? I mean, uh, us. Now that I think about it, Tom had a full crew that he would bring with him for his travel videos. I imagine that would have been a pretty swanky job. If you get to that point, Kendra, I want you to remember me and this comment. I want a swanky travel job, Kendra. I have a lot riding on your success, here. Don't let me down.

[@jlo9993]

bring me too!!

[@TheRealMycanthrope]

Love this comment 😂

[@antonliakhovitch8306]

I just found this channel and I 100% agree

[@noah4822]

i can point a camera, maybe!

[@THambrough]

Tom left? Why?

[@marcberm]

I was devastated to learn that the "Earful Tower" water tower at Disney MGM/Hollywood Studios in FL was a fake decorative-only tower for its entire existence.

[@HippieHobbity]

now i, too, am devastated to learn that

[@qweeqweeq]

Hello from the "Florence Y'all" water tower in Florence, KY (Ok I'm neither from nor live there but it's close enough). It originally said "Florence Mall" as it's by the mall... in Florence, but had to be changed due to laws about advertising on public utilities. A little white-out and marker later and now we have Florence, Y'all!

[@battlebugplays]

thats amazing!!

[@highnoon9333]

There's also an independent baseball team called the Florence Y'alls

[@marythompson9952]

I came here to mention that!

[@SamRK-1000]

So the mall closed and they changed it? As a mall enthusiast that kinda sucks. But, Florence Y’all is much cooler anyways.

[@kirkkerman]

​@SamRK-1000 Looks like the mall is still open, they just weren't allowed to put a giant ad for it on their water tower

[@laurenconrad1799]

Water towers: the thing New York City has a ton of that you never actually notice since they are so well camouflaged. Lol

[@JasperJanssen]

Only for people who’ve never seen Flodder In Amerika. (Dutch movie - spoiler: one character siphons fuel from every car he car find in NYC and stores it in this weird wooden tank on the roof. Eventually the thing blows up…)

[@TheAechBomb]

aren't they usually on top of tall buildings?

[@MarianneExJohnson]

You can see plenty of them if you look at the city from a skyscraper. 😊

[@Robofussin23]

I was anti water tower before this video, you changed my life with this one

[@danielowefitzpatrick2291]

How and why can anyone be anti-water tower? I am confus

[@Robofussin23]

@@danielowefitzpatrick2291 just a little joke

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

@@danielowefitzpatrick2291 Probably from Australia where the water towers suck the water out of the houses. /jk

[@YourCapybaraAmigo_17yrsago]

😂😂

[@Rederister]

I work at a retirement home in upstate South Carolina and a 96-year old resident recalled that Peachoid was apparently sitting on the ground for years because they couldn't finish it for whatever reason

[@rosezingleman5007]

A perfect day: Stewart Hicks on Frank Lloyd Wright this morning and Kendra on water towers in the afternoon.

[@Shako_Lamb]

I recently studied architecture history in grad school, and one of the most interesting things I learned was about the role of design in advertising and public relations. Why did everything look so fancy and beautiful in the past? To build public support for things like water towers. Unfortunately, they don't have to be beautiful anymore because the idea of a water tower is no longer novel. Or with fancy office buildings and department stores like those of Woolworth, Wrigley, Macy's, etc - that's advertising money, the same kind of money that goes into Super Bowl ads these days.

[@isa_bellringing]

I work in water! I have never known anyone else who already knows what the Engineering Record is. So thank you, for making me feel seen ✨

[@whocares_bear]

Did someone talk? I can't see anyone 😜

[@mykal4779]

so what are you like an underwater welder or a swimming teacher?

[@craned]

Yakko, Wakko and Dot are gonna jump out of that tower.

[@dianelee1299]

That's the first thing I thought of

[@LakinMae5]

CUZ, WE ARE THE ANIMANIACS!

[@icantseethis]

As the prophecy foretold

[@007Julie]

That was my first thought as well, I see the WB water tower and all I can think is Animaniacs.

[@michaelminch5490]

They're tiny They're toony They're all a little looney

[@gothmoth2991]

LET'S GOOOOOOO, THE WATERTOWER VIDEO IS HERE!! thank you for posting it!

[@trishlam5730]

u are honestly such a gem to watch. the silly jokes and play on words combined w the super interesting and well thought out information is so entertaining

[@Randomadventuresofmatt]

You get a like and comment for climbing all those stairs to explain this for us😊. Love your sense of humor too!

[@labmaterial]

I’m so glad you mentioned Aquamarine, if only for a moment. I’m a grown man and yet it’s still the first thing that comes to mind whenever water towers come into the conversation.

[@kendragaylord]

This movie is what started my obsession! I always wondered if it was in use and a bunch of people had no idea they drank mermaid tea.

[@cocteautwin]

omg i was about to comment being like “i grew up next to a water tower and aquamarine made me wanna swim in one”

[@ProkoCat]

The little stretch at 9:48 is some of the best *dry* comedy I've seen in a while (ironically in a video about something wet.)

[@HeatherLandon227]

I live near the Peach one in Gaffney and I like seeing it along the road! :)

[@rosezingleman5007]

It’s one of my favorites. Have been waving to it for decades. I have old photos of it taken from the shoulder of the road.

[@djg4534]

We got a identical one in clanton Alabama where I live , Chilton county is famous for our delicious peaches ,

[@Gingersnap0]

I lived 2 miles from that Dixie Water Cup water tower for over a decade and never even knew it was there. I somehow feel like I missed out! We now live a couple of towns over from the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle water tower and call it out just about every time we drive by it. It’s right next to a highway and the way it’s placed among the landscape, it looks quite majestic in it’s own silly way. Great video as always!

[@christopherschwab6525]

We've got an all-time banger in my hometown. Ypsilanti, MI.

[@marl3ymarl3y86]

Oh that *fucks*

[@nothingbutfleurs]

good old phallic water tower

[@nataliepall13]

I'm from Gaffney! Absolutely had to click on the video when I saw the infamous peach tower!

[@eggsinhell1532]

As it happens, I collected a few dozen fawning photos of water towers from my various travels across the US over my life. No one’s ever seen them, they’re just for me. They’re so charismatic!

[@RonnieStanley-tc6vi]

Ya gotta have a hobby. I think it's cool though. Print them out and make an old fashioned photo album. For me, that's what triggers great memories that would normally be forgotten with age.

[@AndyGneiss]

That water tower in the park which is visit-able makes me wonder what other important infrastructure could be designed to be visited. I think it would be neat to have information signs all over our infrastructure. Such a combo would make walking around town a lot more interesting, at least for people with such interests, but I also hope it would help develop an awareness of how the world works in people, both young and grown. - thoughts from a civil engineer Thanks for the great video!

[@morighani]

that would be absolutely wonderful!!!

[@edjkg]

I've seen the one in Gaffney! Their is a peach stand near the base of it.

[@acanthus_et_adonis8922]

why do I feel like I've been tricked into watching 14 minutes and 49 seconds of a lovely person talking about the equally lovely subject of watertowers even though there'd been no sign of deception at all--

[@humanthetooth]

The ability to make boring shit interesting is a highly unrecognized talent. If we had a word for it, it would be at the top of your resume.

[@digotron2000]

What the hell i just went to that exact water tower in seattle for the first time yesterday!!

[@mignoncat1]

A history of water towers from someone with the driest wit imaginable ? I am there !!❤

[@hWat-Ever]

I watched this whole thing to see if ypsi would be mentioned.

[@kendragaylord]

It was hard to fit in

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

When I was a kid and we visited my grandma's house downtown there was an industrial sector with an old warehouse, railroad track and big old rusty water tower and whenever we passed it in the car I'd freak because it looked like a mechanical monster from War of the Worlds and I'd hide from it by crouching down in the car seat, lol.

[@Ozzymandius1]

NOT MAVIS BEACON TEACHES TYPING AND WORLD PLAY. Honestly, great video I didn't know I needed. Much like all of your content.

[@bywayofkpc]

"Gravity...from earlier!" is the one that made me snort. Also, thank you for educating me on things I didn't know I was interested in knowing.

[@comradeScallion]

i found this blog page fully dedicated to documenting every water tower with a smiley face in america, and now i just gotta convince my friends that it's a good roadtrip idea

[@videogamescoverftw]

I fully expected at 4:25 after "clean safe water" you would follow it up with "So they installed longer lasting lead water pipes". The humor in this video is great

[@laurabooth8338]

"But what about the water towers that look more Aquamarine less aquaduct?" THANK YOU that iconic 2006 cinematic masterpiece is not referenced enough

[@thesaltyspitoon.]

The style of this video reminds me so much of the format of science education videos in the early 2000's. Whimsical editing and writing while delivering great educational material.

[@FredZoom]

I live near the ketchup bottle (at 0:57 and 11:09) one and pass by it every time I head to town on IL-159. My family likes to point it out when we're together on a drive, similar to when we see the Arch when crossing over into Missouri. Cool video! - Fred

[@rifkinr4660]

I’m so glad that KZbin recommended me your video! This was very entertaining and informative! Love it!!

[@MrnmrsCCazares]

My favorite water tower is a few towns over from me and it's a smiley face. You see the smile just as you come over a hill so it pops up and smiles at you. It's between Austin and Houston.

[@BoyProdigyX]

As a Philly resident, we get our water from reservoirs... It didn't occur to me that any of those water towers were still in use... I just assumed they were all relegated to being name tags for the town they're in a long time ago. Remember though, NEVER go swimming in a water tower, or you could end up the next Elisa Lam!

[@zz12233]

I wasn't expecting so many location changes! Educational and fun, as always. (also giggled at the toilet flush)

[@lauramathews3151]

I live about 2- 2.5 hours away from Gaffney SC, in NC and I love it everytime I see it bc it reminds me of James and the Giant Peach.

[@tylerkochman1007]

I went to college in Ypsilanti, MI. It is famous for its antique (and incredibly phallic) stone water tower (nicknamed the “brick d**k”)

[@pauld2810]

Your videos have been popping up randomly on my KZbin feed. I've enjoyed them. Today, I saw my favorite neighborhood water tower, here in Seattle. Now I'm a subscriber.

[@xxkimbatron]

I have never seen your videos before and I have no idea how this ended up in my feed but I’m so glad it did!

[@AllycatlovesAG]

I'm from Vancouver, and we do not have a water tower (I just googled where ours is and I believe it is in a suburb), but anytime I go on a road trip or in popular media, I see water towers. I never fully understood why they all looked the same, or their purpose, so this video was very interesting. The water tower in the suburb is made of cement and also looks like some type of tower, but it is also in the water, so not your typical one.

[@jashawnc4004]

Your jokes and transitions combined with your knowledge of things I never really consider (like water towers ) is so fun to watch! Thanks for the vid!

[@blippity.]

I can tell you had a lot of fun making this and all the work paid off. Such a fun and informative watch.

[@k80_]

There was one in my grandparents town when I was growing up (halfway between Houston and Galveston, near Kemah) that I would always gaze up at. It looked actively impossible, a huge blue globe on top of a skinny pole

[@GenericAccountVLR]

And filled with water, no less!

[@jimbrittain402]

This just popped up in my feed, and it's a delight. You've got a "Technology Connections" vibe, but your delivery is unique. Take your damn like AND your damn follow. MOAR!!

[@RealTomEmanuel]

Deadwood mentioned! I grew up there and could see the big water-towers on the hills above town from my bedroom window. I ended up being grateful for them when a big forest fire burned through town when I was 12. Thanks for teaching me something new about my hometown and state!

[@drakep271]

This was a great video!! I learned so much, and your humor and delivery style were super engaging :)

[@Erpty05]

i haven’t seen one of your videos before but i loveee the script you wrote for this. Entertaining, slightly irreverent, and educational. I’m subscribed!

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

I love the transitions! Good job!

[@dressmaking]

This was sooooo good, Kendra!!!

[@blahmooblah789]

Your channel holds so much water! Sorry I couldn’t resist but I really have been enjoying checking out your videos. Especially this one. When I was little, I had such a crazy experience with a water tower. It was on a local airport and it was covered in checkered, red and white squares. Something about a 3-D round object covered in squares really tripped me out when I was a kid. Thank you

[@JackBouchierr]

This feels like we went on a field trip or took class outside for the day and I love it

[@VeeHoffman]

I swear every week I find out another KZbinr I follow lives at least Seattle-adjacent. This video rules.

[@viciouslady1340]

Because the PNW is best 😊

[@cambry4932]

i love this video style 😭reminds me of stuff i watched as a kid, i'm not sure what exactly but it feels familiar and comforting

[@jomalomal]

this editing is hilarious 🤣 love the high quality water tower content 👌

[@morenofranco9235]

Thanks, Kendra, for a really interesting presentation.

[@grammapolice]

@10:55 RIP to the Libby’s corn water tower of Rochester MN. A known landmark and fixture of my childhood, beloved by the community, so a few years ago the city allowed it to be bulldozed by a real estate developer and in the place of the historic factories and beloved water tower, they have built nothing. Hurrah! Thanks for showing a fixture of my childhood, if only for the purpose of pun deployment.

[@Yabroproductions33]

The information I didn’t know I needed. Thank you!

[@eIIemenopee]

This is quality content, I appreciate you and the effort you put into these viddies!!

[@lydiasalerno2320]

I bloody love that you made this video! Thank you! 💗

[@celestestone9181]

Just the whimsy I needed today thank you!

[@Sharedbysara]

Video upgrade. We love to see it. Keep up the great work!!!

[@kollibriterresonnenblume2314]

Wow I've always been an admirer of water towers but didn't know they were this interesting. Great video. (And more groans per minute, pun-wise, than anything I've seen in months lol)

[@andrewhallock2548]

I found my way here through Tom Scott. What a great video! Thank you for sharing and taking the time to create this content.

[@jennhoff03]

"Gravity! From earlier!" ;'D Kendra, you're a delight.

[@souzousplinters7128]

thoroughly entertaining and informative video, great job :)

[@Sugar3Glider]

Very nice banter

[@reefslid]

im so happy you mentioned aquamarine its literally the only reason I know what a water tower is and it left many questions about them in my brain as a kid

[@c.powell8472]

ok, this video style and script writing is so funny and entertaining. I always hated the idea of talking outside for the whole duration of a scripted segment. Like I dont want to do it... but you just being like "back to the indoors" speaks to my soul hahaha. I love this style! Keep it up! Transition are decent too, I was impressed!

[@fluxx4448]

just found your content, and I absolutely loved this video

[@Linzluvs500]

This was extremely enjoyable to watch!

[@poolhall9632]

The Gaffney SC peach was always an important landmark on our drive to grandmas house. Legendary Landmark.

[@endereverdeen]

a subject i never thought i’d think about, thank you for sharing !!

[@andriana5311]

This is amazingly done!

[@sharpeningtheaxe]

10:58 Omg, my city’s water tower🥰 Didn’t even cross my mind that I might see it when clicking on this video, what a delight!

[@smores17]

I have never known how water towers worked in my whole life and you have taught me while being so so entertaining. Thanks!

[@JBabyLeather]

I never realized how interesting water towers could be. Thank you 😊

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

I’m glad you included the worlds largest catsup bottle water tower just across the river from StL. I wish you would’ve included our 3 historic beautiful standpipe water towers though. There are 3 of the only 7 left in the country here in St. Louis! 😊

[@Meredith36]

I came for the knowledge and wit and was overjoyed by the wordplay.

[@izzy_busy_quizzy]

This is so brilliantly done and made me laugh too hard at some points! Thank you for sharing this and I look forward to what else you have in store!

[@JohnDoe-kq8dx]

Great script. Keep going out and doing bits

[@TheAChristineS]

Did not know what to expect clicking here, but this is so wonderfully kitchy and niche but relevant. Thanks!

[@junoestro]

amazing video. love this style of video

[@MAlanThomasII]

Makes me miss the historic water towers of St. Louis (my hometown). I used to live by the Compton Hill Water Tower, which is a national historic landmark!

[@caysenmaus3897]

she needs like a tv show or an emmy or something these videos are always so good she never misses

[@gmaildotcomuser]

love your videos! always epic!!!!

[@cyclicmusings2661]

Nice and informative water tower video! I wonder if you'll do radio transmission towers next or lighthouses, now that's a fun one

[@elk45]

Have I ever had even a *passing* thought about water towers until this point? Nope. I clicked on this video as though it was my life's passion.

[@lisafreeland5077]

Greetings from St. Maarten in the Caribbean! Loved this , you're a nut and so cool! I would have never thought to look this up but now I know!!

[@leocoyote6579]

OMG!!!! volunteer park is my favorite place in seattle!!! i miss it near daily and love the walk up the old water tower

[@michicrj]

Great video!

[@kitneyspears]

I’m from the Upstate of South Carolina, where the peach water tower in Gaffney is located. On road trips, my family used the peach water tower as a landmark that we were almost home :-)