Louisville's Water Works

In the 1860's when engineer Theodore Scowden and his assistant Charles Hermany planned the first site for Louisville Water Company — then known as Louisville Water Works —they had a grand vision. They wanted a “park-like” landscape that would be used and valued by the community.That vision lives on today at Louisville Water Tower Park, home of the Water Works Museum and Pumping Station No.1. The Water Tower and Pumping Station were designated National Historic Landmarks in 1971, and the Water Tower is the oldest and most ornamental structure of its kind within the country. Louisville Water renovated the entire Park in 2014, turning a portion of the of the historic building into a museum to tell the story of the history of our water, as well as creating a unique rental space for the community. The Water Works museum welcomed more than 30,000 visitors in the course of its first year and hosted more than 100 weddings, rehearsals, festivals and corporate events. Visit us today to watch a film showing workers from the early 1900's operating a steam pump, view wooden pipes laid in the early days of Louisville Water, learn about early filtration methods (some are still in use today!), and visit a working pump station. The one of a kind facilities are available for rental throughout the year.