Lusk's Whimsical Water Tower: A Peculiar Pine Stack in Wyoming

Lusk's Whimsical Water Tower: A Peculiar Pine Stack in Wyoming

Saddle up, partner! The DOOZY structure of the Lusk Water Tower makes it stand out like a sore thumb, or a pinecone, in the Wyoming countryside - it's built of Douglas fir and redwood, far from your standard metal water tower.

Welcome cowboy, or cowgirl, to Lusk, WY, a town where the attractions are as mighty as the prairie itself. One such site is the peculiar Lusk Water Tower, built way back in 1886, originally meant to quench the thirst of steam locomotives from the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad. What sets it apart from the usual is its unusual construction – this ain't no metal beast! Instead, it's a stack of Douglas fir and redwood, 25 feet in diameter and height, rising atop a 25-foot base.

This quirky fellow was relocated to the town's east edge in 1919, next to the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company line, now a part of Union Pacific. Some time in 1991 this charming landmark earned a well-deserved spot on the National Register of Historic Places. So, when you're traversing the high plains of Lusk, don't forget to take a detour and catch a glimpse of this unforgettable pine vision.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Friendly Jane

Discuss this with the author and others

No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.