This standpipe served to equalize pressure and to minimize the pulsations of the water flowing in the mains. The tower was constructed of Joliet limestone blocks quarried in Illinois, a foresight which proved invaluable two years after the completion of construction when, on the morning of October 9, 1871, flames engulfed Chicago and leveled nearly every building except for the Water Tower.

On the day following the fire, the Water Tower served as a guidepost by which citizens hunted through the ruins for what had once been their homes. It became a monument to the efforts of Chicago's water works engineers; it became and has remained a symbol of Chicago's indomitable "I Will" spirit.

Dedicated in May of 1985, the Center is one of Chicago's major attractions, drawing worldwide attention and more than two million visitors a year. It is a multipurpose government building that combines state agencies and offices with a commercial area of shops and restaurants. This unique building also features a State of Illinois Gallery, Illinois Artisans Shop, and one of the largest collections of contemporary Illinois artworks.

With Chicago as the nation's transportation hub, the Center is only a non-stop flight from almost anywhere in the United States or Canada and connects to a subway service directly from O'Hare International Airport to the Center's lower level. In addition, superb ground level transportation -from trains and buses to cabs - makes arrival at the Center convenient.