Rockford Tower

Rockford Tower is a Delaware historical marker in Wilmington, New Castle County, dedicated 2000.

New Castle County · dedicated 2000 · 2301 Tower Drive, Wilmington

Get directions ↗Start a road trip Historical trails

In 1895, Theodore Leisen, engineer for the Wilmington Board of Park Commissioners, recommended that “a large pavilion and observatory” be built in Rockford Park on what was called Mt. Salem Hill, the highest point in the city at 330 feet above sea level. His proposal coincided with the Board of Water Commissioners’ conclusion that Wilmington was in need of a new water tower in that neighborhood. The two boards merged their projects in Rockford Tower. Built between 1899 and 1902, the half-million-gallon water storage tank and observatory is constructed of natural field stone and is an example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. Rockford Tower is 57 feet in diameter at the base, 75 feet high to the floor of the observatory, and reaches a total height of 115 feet.

TodayHistorical map

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Example

under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

what this marker records spans 1777 to 1789, overlapping William Gabby's years here

From one family's 77-marker roster

Upload your family tree and TreeAlive finds the markers near where your own ancestors lived.

See your family's markers

Start with a tree file, a FamilySearch sign in, or a WikiTree ID.

Report a problem with this page

The marker isn't at this spotOur pin may be off. If you know where it stands, tell us.I couldn't find the markerWe record what the source recorded. We have not been to look.The sign reads differentlyThat would be an error, and we can pass it to the program.The historical map looks wrongThe period map behind the pin, not the marker itself.Something else

We may pass what you report to the state's marker program. Please don't include personal details.

Source: State of Delaware Historical Markers Program, administered by the Delaware Public Archives.
TreeAlive is an independent project and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the State of Delaware or the Delaware Public Archives.

More markers nearby

Mount Salem United Methodist Churchunder 1 mi
Henry Clay Villageunder 1 mi
Gibraltarunder 1 mi
DuPont Powder Millsunder 1 mi