Sitting high on the headlands, the coastal town of Mendocino sports some unusual landmarks that may have visitors scratching their heads over their original purpose. Several of these tall, wooden tower-like structures can be found around town, hinting at the logging and milling industry that first attracted settlers to the area. Mendocino's water towers, built at the turn of the 19th century, provided necessary water to the town's new residents.

The woodsmen who first ventured north from San Francisco to the Northern California coast in 1852 found plenty of wide rivers and fast-moving streams to support their village and sawmills. But the water table of Mendocino is very close to the ground's surface. This geological fact means that in-ground fresh water storage was near impossible. Unlike its neighbor to the north, Fort Bragg, Mendocino has no central water supply, and so these towers collected and stored rainwater for year round use. Their height, from 30 to 60 feet tall, provided the necessary pressure to feed water to the pipes below, while a windmill provided the power to run the pump.

Today, most of Mendocino's water towers have been renovated, a process necessary to preserve them 100 years after their construction. Most have been repurposed into gift shops, artist studios, or residences. Their distinct profile high over the town of Mendocino is yet one more unique feature of this picturesque seaside town. Visit the oldest still-standing water tower at the corner of Ukiah Street, a yellow one surrounded by an artist's garden and sculpture. You can even fulfill your dream of sleeping in a water tower, outfitted all the necessities: plush bedding, a wood fireplace, and a private bath, by visiting our JD House, part of the Blue Door Group. Sleep well under soaring ceilings with the sounds of the ocean waves crashing nearby, surrounded by the history of the Mendocino's water towers.