Belton, Texas 141-Year-Old Tower: A Rare Texas Treasure

If you’re on Interstate 14 driving toward Copperas Cove, once you’re topping the 121 bridge, you can see a large tower that looks like a chess piece. For years, I had assumed it was an old structure that the city of Belton had forgotten to tear down. But in reality, it's not just a historic landmark—it’s a beautiful piece of the city's history.

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From Water Tower to World Treasure: The History of Belton's 141-Year-Old Standpipe

The standpipe water tower is known as Belton's first property to be officially recognized as a historic landmark. According to its description, construction began over 100 years ago on a 75-foot-tall standpipe located on what was called Denison Hill. It replaced the original 50-foot standpipe that was built on Main Street 141 years ago. By 1914, the newer tower was no longer in use, but it remained significant enough to be added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 26, 1990, according to KWTX.

Belton’s Tower: A 141-Year-Old Landmark with a Special Place in History

Today, I walked up to the actual property, and in my opinion, you can feel the history that surrounds this remarkable structure. Allegedly, there are only two towers of this kind left in the world—and fortunately, one of them is right here. So it’s not only a local treasure; it’s also a piece of Texas history. Next time you're driving through the Belton area, look to the right when you cross the bridge and see that beautiful tower. Don’t just think of it as an old building—it’s a part of Belton's legacy.