I’m not sure if they’re still in use, and at one point two dykes coming out from the shores connected them to the shore, but the historic water intake towers at the Chain of Rocks are very cool. I took these photographs from the bridge.
The first one is a Palladian, Renaissance Revival design, and is much closer to the bridge and easier to see.
I love the detailing on the tower, which I imagine is very hard to reach nowadays.
Smaller, and harder to see, is the Romanesque Revival tower further downstream.
another post that made me miss st louis in a big, eerie way.great photos.
I am ecstatic that the water authority finally opened up the towers to the KSDK news to show the interior of one of these towers. I used to converse with people who had some crazy ideas about getting onto these towers to photograph the interiors. The photos hey posted were not that good, but at least the mystery is now over. Do you know if there are any more photos out there?
help
Terry, unfortunately I do not know anyone else that has photographs of the interiors. Yes, some urban explorers have been talking about going there for years, though I do not think it is practical. For the video that we are referencing at KSDK, go to this link:
http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/local/hey-heidi/2014/09/25/mississippi-river-castles-chain-of-rocks/16194179/
First thing I thought when I saw them was how to get in them.
The Water Department uses boats to get out to check on them and perform routine maintenance. They used to be reached via dykes attached to the riverbanks.