[2] The Water Tower and Pumping Station were jointly added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 1975.

[4][5] The district was once called Tower Town or Towertown and was known for its bohemian artists and nightlife in the early 20th century.

In the 1910s, artists moved into an area near Pine St (now North Michigan Avenue) that was being deserted by affluent residents.

Tower Town was the resultant artistic district, and it was successful in part because of its proximity to affluent patrons who remained on the Gold Coast.

A new bridge connecting the area to the Chicago Loop helped transform Tower Town into an expensive commercial district.