Top of page

Many U.S. communities advertise their special qualities via artwork on tall water towers. This one, locally known as “the Gaffney Peachoid” in Gaffney, South Carolina, touts the area’s tasty peaches. Photo by Carol M. Highsmith, 2017 Oct. 28. //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.46659

Towering over the Landscape

Share this post:

Water towers dot the landscape, almost always the tallest structure in the nearby area. When taking long road trips, they catch my eye, especially ones where the tower has been painted to reflect something about the region or when the tower itself is an unusual shape. For example, the tower above, in Gaffney, South Carolina, proudly touts the area’s peach production with this 130 foot tall tower shaped and painted to resemble a delicious peach!

As