Tower of Power!
Thank you to Cincinnati Magazine for featuring the Fort Thomas Museum Director, Deanna Beineke, and the iconic tower in their March 2026 magazine issue.
Check out the story and you might learn a new fact about our City’s symbol!
“Despite becoming the literal symbol for the city of Ft. Thomas, most people have no idea what this tower is – at least according to Ft. Thomas Museum Director Deanna Beineke. “It was never a defensive Fort,” says Beineke. “But it is probably the most beautiful water tower I’ve ever seen.” The Ft. Thomas Water Tower (or Building 16) was built in 1890 to cover a 100,000-gallon steel water tank. It stands 102 feet tall and is made of granite and Kentucky limestone. One of its two large plaques memorializes the Spanish-American War – the one on the south side honors Colonel Harry C. Egbert and the one on the west honors men from Ft. Thomas’s Sixth Infantry who died in Cuba. “At the time [the west plaque] was created, it was one of the largest bronze plaques ever cast in the country at 10 feet high, eight feet wide, and just under 1,500 pounds,” says Beineke. While the tower hasn’t provided water to the city since the mid-20th century, it still serves as the area’s focal point. The adjacent park is named after the tower and hosts special events/tours every year around the Fourth of July.” – Claire Lefton