Alhambra Water Tower

Erected in 1924, the Alhambra Water Tower has been described as a "lighthouse that has never seen the sea." It was built for George Merrick's first platted subdivision north of Coral Gables and was used for storage as part of the water supply system for the city from 1926 to 1931.

The Alhambra Water Tower is actually two structures in one. It houses an inner steel tank that resembles any other water tower in terms of looks and purpose. But around the tank, Merrick had a façade created of a wood frame and reinforced concrete to resemble a lighthouse, thus transforming the structure into a true work of art.

Abandoned during the Great Depression, the tower fell into disrepair and was scheduled for demolition in the 1950s. However, public outcry forced the city to save it from the wrecking ball and, in 1993, it was restored to its original look.

Today, the Alhambra Water Tower is a local landmark, listed on the Coral Gables Register of Historic Places since 1988. It features circle-head windows and an orange-colored smooth stucco base. A half-round stucco band separates the base from the upper levels of the tower, which are finished with a rough texture of yellowish orange. The tower can be viewed in the landscaped median of Alhambra Circle at the intersection of Coral Way, Greenway Drive, DeSoto Boulevard, and Anderson Road in Coral Gables, Florida.