COLUMBUS STREET WATER TOWER RESTORATION COMPLETE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
January 8, 2026
Ashley Manthei
Communications Manager
amanthei@cityofsunprairie.com
(608) 608-0322
 
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. – In December, one of Sun Prairie’s most recognizable landmarks received much needed restoration work thanks to a public-private partnership between the Sun Prairie Historical Library & Museum and the Sun Prairie Historical Society.

The Columbus Street Water Tower was built in 1899 as Sun Prairie’s first public works project. Its history reaches further back to the mid-1800s, as the prominent dolomite limestone was salvaged from the Stevens Grist Mill that stood five miles to the northeast. The tower served the community until decommissioning in 1991 when a group of Sun Prairie residents formed the Columbus Street Water Tower Board to fundraise for the restoration
and preservation of the tower. The tower was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Work such as stone repair and cleaning, mortar replacement, and windowsill replacement was completed by Masonry Restoration, Inc. While funding for the work came primarily from the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, prices rose significantly since initial estimates. The Sun Prairie Historical Society, Inc. graciously stepped in to contribute $7,900 to help make up the difference of cost to preserve this landmark for years to come.

"The Columbus Street Water Tower has been a fixture of the Sun Prairie skyline since it was completed in 1899,” says Alex Roberson, Sun Prairie Historical Society President. “In the 126 years since, generations of Sun Prairie citizens have rallied to preserve and celebrate this important piece of our city's history, including placing it on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sun Prairie Historical Society is excited to continue that legacy of
historic preservation by contributing to the ongoing restoration of such an important piece of our historic downtown. We could not do so without the support of the dedicated members."

To learn more about the Columbus Street Water Tower, check out its page on Clio! Clio is a free educational website and app that guides the public to historical and cultural sites throughout the U.S., including several locations in Sun Prairie. https://theclio.com/entry/150150
About City of Sun Prairie
Sun Prairie is a vibrant and thriving community located in northeastern Dane County, just east of the City of Madison. The City of Sun Prairie has experienced strong population growth since its incorporation from a village to a city in 1958, undergoing a transformation from a relatively small community of less than 4,000 to an estimated 39,419 today.