Entry No. 20 — the Tampa file — filed under: secret_history

Sulphur Springs Water Tower (at River Tower Park)

Soaring 214 feet above the Hillsborough River, this 1927 Gothic Revival water tower with medieval-style battlements sits over a subterranean artesian spring. Developer Josiah Richardson mortgaged his fortune to build it for his tourist resort and alligator farm, only for a catastrophic 1933 dam burst flood to destroy his businesses and leave the tower standing as a monumental relic of financial ruin.

The move: Pack a late-afternoon picnic for River Tower Park to stand directly beneath the 21-story concrete battlements along the riverbank as dusk falls.

📍 Sulphur Springs, Tampa
💸 $$
⚡ Up for anything
🌗 Indoors

Where: 401 E Bird St, Tampa, FL 33604

Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.

#secret_history #gothic_architecture #forgotten_disasters #parks

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: tampa.gov · Wikipedia

last checked: 2026-07-21