Importance of The Water Tower

1. It is a symbol of Americana

Not only do most small towns have a prominent water tower, but it has also become a symbol of Americana, which is at the heart of what Travel Small Towns represents. If you Google Americana, you will see images of downtowns, water towers, and American historic nostalgia, which is widely followed by various audiences.

2. There is an education component to create our niche

For example, the Apple logo has nothing to do with technology, but they educated their audience to identify it that way. We have been maintaining this branding for the past five years, and our brand is now being recognized by the audience we have built, as well as the SEO efforts on our sites. 

3. It’s unique and familiar

While a water tower is recognizable, it also serves as a logo that can tie the name ‘Travel Small Towns’ to small towns without relying on more widely used icons like flags, pictures of downtowns, fountains, or gazebos. 

4. Water Towers are becoming historical landmarks and useful marketing tools 

Water Towers across the country are becoming famous landmarks to visit and marketing tools for a town’s offerings. There are several examples on our partner site- My Town Travels that showcase this, such as the Apple Tower in Jackson, OH, and the Peachoid Water Tower in Gaffney, SC. 

5. Water Towers on-screen are becoming popular

There are also several very famous Water Towers that are recognizable on screen, like the Warner Bros. Tower and the “Stand by Me Tower,” which offer actual tours. 

Examples:

Several water towers have gained recognition for their on-screen appearances. Notably, the water tower used in the movie “Stand By Me” became iconic, and the one at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City is a prominent Culver City landmark, says Instagram. Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, and Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris, also feature their own water towers. 

Here’s a more detailed look:

• Stand By Me Water Tower:

This specific water tower, located in Brownsville, Oregon, was featured prominently in the 1986 movie “Stand By Me,” particularly in the scene where the song “Lollipop” is playing, says a Facebook post. While the original tower was dismantled, it remains a symbol of the movie. 

• Sony Pictures Water Tower:

The water tower at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City is a well-known landmark and has been seen on-screen in various productions, according to Instagram. Its distinctive design makes it a visually recognizable feature. 

• Earffel Tower:

This faux water tower, resembling the Eiffel Tower, is located at Disneyland Paris’s Walt Disney Studios Park, says Wikipedia, and previously at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. 

• Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure:

Both parks feature water towers within their themed areas, like the wooden water tower at Goofy Sky School in Disney California Adventure. 

• Warner Bros. Water Tower:

While the exact location and film appearances are not explicitly mentioned in the search results, Warner Bros. Studios also has a water tower, which could be seen in various productions filmed on set. 

• Other Notable Water Towers:

Several other cities and locations have water towers that have appeared on-screen in films or television shows, but the specific details about their recognition or appearances are not detailed in the search results. 

These all paved the way for scenes of water towers, which are widely used for scene transitions on shows like When Calls The Heart, Gilmore Girls, and many, many others that focus on small-town life.

There are even websites dedicated to water towers…

Example of a Historical Water Tower Sites Website:

https://pttg.com/blogs/historic-water-towers.php

6. Historical Relevance

If you ever take time to research “History of Water Towers,” you will be amazed at how many people have analyzed content, put together videos, etc., and continue to do this on the subject. Not only are water towers still crucial for many small towns, but there is a pride factor associated with their history. There is even a company in New York that has been crafting iconic wooden water towers for four generations and continues to produce them to this day.

***This is just a snapshot of the significance of Water Towers and the fascination people have with them. I hope this helps you understand why Travel Small Towns proudly displays it as our logo and symbol of small-town pride. It was important to our team to put this together for our members.