An Iconic Structure In Bismarck Is About To Vanish From Sight

They say what goes up must come down, eventually anyway.

On my daily trips to the gym at the YMCA, I've often noticed a rather large water tower right off of South Washington on West Avenue F in Bismarck.

I grew up next to a rather large water tower in my hometown of Grand Forks, North Dakota, where my friends and I would climb and do things we probably shouldn't have done.

I've often wondered as I drove by this tower in Bismarck, which is right in the middle of the neighborhood, much like the one I grew up next to if kids still did crazy things like we did. It seems like it's difficult to even get kids off their phones for a few minutes these days.

This water tower in Bismarck has been around for a long time.  Close to a century.

The 107-foot water tower at 202 West Avenue F was constructed in 1938. 86 years to be exact. This water tower, according to a press release we received from the city of Bismarck has been decommissioned now for a couple of years.

The property was first advertised for sale in 2023.

In April of  2023, the City Commission awarded the sale to a group known as the Residential Neighborhood Partnership in the amount of $150,000 who committed to building a home on the property following the city demolition of the above-ground features of the water tower.

The purchase agreement between the City and the Residential Neighborhood Partnership was signed in June 2024, with the purchase completion occurring following the city demolition of the water tower.

Today is the day of the demolition of this long-time water tower in Bismarck.

I stopped by on the way to the gym and snapped a few photos for you.  It was still standing as of 11 am.  I'm sure by the time you read this it will be coming down.

Good bye old friend.