General Info

The WaterWorks Museum opened in March 2014 and is located in the west wing of Louisville Water's historic original Pumping Station. The Museum highlights Louisville Water's considerable archive of historic photographs, some dating back to 1860, films and memorabilia, and allows visitors to discover the company's contributions to safe drinking water through its innovations in science and engineering Development of the WaterWorks Museum is part of Louisville Water's extensive education programming, which reaches over 50,000 people annually with programming that extends into classrooms throughout the region as well as through tours of Louisville Water facilities by collaborations with schools, community organizations and cultural attractions. Louisville Water's original Pumping Station and Water Tower have stood on the banks of the Ohio River for 150 years, serving as a visual landmark for the city of Louisville and the water utility that bears its name. Designed by Theodore Scowden and his assistant Charles Hermany, the Pumping Station housed the Cornish steam engines that were part of the water companys operations when it began in October, 1860. Scowden designed the station in Classical Revival to resemble a two-story temple with wings on either side. In 1971, the U.S. Government designated the Pumping Station and Water Tower National Historic Landmarks. The Secretary of the Interior at the time called the tower one of the finest examples of industrial architecture in the world. ABOUT LOUISVILLE WATER Louisville Water provides an abundant, safe supply of drinking water to almost one million people in Louisville Metro and surrounding counties. On average, the company produces 118 million gallons of Louisville pure tap each day. Louisville Water began as Kentucky's first public water provider in 1860.