Summer is the perfect time to experience a bit of New York City history, especially when that combines 80-degree weather with 360-degree views!
What was once a vital artery of New York City’s water system—and largely inaccessible to the public since the 1980s—the Highbridge Water Tower is once again welcoming visitors for a series of rare free tours beginning this weekend.
One of the best parts? The tours are completely free.
Beginning on Saturday, June 13, New Yorkers will have the unique opportunity to climb the iconic 200-foot-tall tower. NYC Parks’ Urban Park Rangers will lead visitors through the historic structure, sharing the fascinating story of how it helped deliver water to a rapidly growing Manhattan in the 19th century.
What is the Highbridge Water Tower?
It won’t cost New New Yorkers a single cent to stand atop 19th-century history and see all the way to the Bronx canopy.
Perched high above Highbridge Park in Washington Heights, the tower offers breathtaking panoramic views stretching across Manhattan, the Harlem River, and the Bronx.
It’s one of the few places in the city where visitors can experience a true 360-degree perspective from atop a historic landmark that once played a critical role in everyday New York life.
The tower dates back to 1872 and was built as part of the Croton Aqueduct system, which transformed public health and city life by bringing fresh water to New York’s growing population. Today, it stands as the last remaining water tower of its kind in the city and serves as a striking reminder of New York’s engineering history.
After climbing the 200–foot tower’s historic, winding cast–iron staircase to the observation deck, you will look out through newly restored windows to see:
- The High Bridge: New York City’s oldest standing bridge, modeled after historic Roman aqueducts, sitting directly below.
- The Harlem River Valley: A sprawling view of the waterfront, the spans of neighboring bridges, and the Bronx coastline.
- The Manhattan Skyline: A unique, northward-looking perspective of the city’s dense urban canopy fading into the horizon.
An Important Piece of New York History
The tower and its surrounding park are rich with historic layers.
During the American Revolution, the very cliffs the tower stands on were used as strategic military fortifications. General George Washington even used the nearby Morris-Jumel Mansion as his temporary headquarters in the fall of 1776.
Later, towards the end of the 19th century, the High Bridge and its tower became a massive tourist destination, drawing crowds of weekend strollers away from downtown.
In 1958, the tower was outfitted with a massive five–octave carillon (a system of cast bronze bells) financed by department store magnate B. Altman, which played music across the river valley until the 1980s.
Following a meticulous multi-million dollar restoration by NYC Parks to stabilize the masonry, replace the windows, and upgrade the interior staircase, the public can finally experience this piece of infrastructure just as Victorians did more than a century ago.
Know Before You Go: How to Get Tickets
The best part about this historic experience? No tickets or advanced registration are required. Access is entirely first-come, first-served.
- Getting There: Take the 1, A, or C subway lines to the 168th Street station, then walk north and east toward Highbridge Park (about a 10-minute walk). Street parking in the area is highly limited, so public transit or cycling is strongly recommended.
- Date & Time: Saturday, June 13. You must arrive between 1:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. to gain admittance to the tower line.
- Location: The tour begins at the base of the water tower, located behind the Highbridge Recreation Center and Pool at West 174th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan.
