Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Jones Beach Water Tower, also known as "The Pencil," was first built in 1930. The architectural inspiration is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice. The roof (the point) is made of copper and is 32 feet high. Altogether, the tower measures 231 feet tall. However it holds 315,000 gallons of water in its 25 foot wide steel cylindrical tank, and that extends more than 1,000 feet underground.
The tower supplies water for the entire park including Jones Beach Theater, water fountains, restrooms, and swimming pools. The seal of the state of New York is affixed to the tower facing toward Wantagh Parkway.
It’s nearly 200 steps to climb up the tower, and is off limits to the public.
The Jones Beach Water Tower, also known as "The Pencil," was first built in 1930. The architectural inspiration is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice. The roof (the point) is made of copper and is 32 feet high. Altogether, the tower measures 231 feet tall. However it holds 315,000 gallons of water in its 25 foot wide steel cylindrical tank, and that extends more than 1,000 feet underground.
The tower supplies water for the entire park including Jones Beach Theater, water fountains, restrooms, and swimming pools. The seal of the state of New York is affixed to the tower facing toward Wantagh Parkway.
It’s nearly 200 steps to climb up the tower, and is off limits to the public.
