Skyline Star

Texas A&M University’s iconic water tower has welcomed visitors for over a century.

By Matthew Seaver '26

Many generations have come and gone through Texas A&M University, but one thing remains the same on Asbury Street: the campus water tower and the friendly “Welcome to Aggieland” greeting it has maintained most of its life. The tower has served as both an iconic piece of the Bryan-College Station skyline and as a major water distributor for Aggieland for a little over a century, undergoing three major phases in its history.

As director of water, environmental and distribution services, Nathan Jones ’79 ’83 has enjoyed a nearly 30-year career at the university overseeing the tower’s operations. “It fills a basic need,” he said, “but at the same time, it’s symbolic of campus and one of the first things you see. It’s always fun to watch aerial footage of the university on television, because you can bet the water tower will be featured.”

The Original Tower (1920-75)

The original water tower was constructed in 1920 for just $17,289, which is between $260,000 and $270,000 in today’s dollars. At 150 feet tall, the tank held 150,000 gallons of water. It was supported by four legs topped by a cone-shaped cover with the words “Welcome to Aggieland” and insignia representing different outfits in the Corps of Cadets.

It didn’t take long for the tower to fall victim to mischief, with one of the first documented events in 1920 when three freshman climbed its ladder and graffitied a huge “24” signifying their graduation year. In the years following, students continued to scale its heights and write “BTHO” followed by the name of the football team’s opponent for the week.

When the student body saw a rise in enrollment after President James Earl Rudder ’32 allowed women to attend in 1963 and made membership in the Corps optional in 1965, a need arose for additional, larger buildings on campus. To have running water in those facilities, an upgraded water tower was necessary.

The Current Tower (1975-1999)

In 1975, a new 186-foot tower was constructed that held 2.1 million gallons of water. Opinions were mixed, however, on its most prominent and peculiar feature: the color. Intended to blend in with the sky, the new structure was painted powder blue and lacked any text. The big blue behemoth upset some of the student body who found the color and lack of Aggie Spirit disheartening, leading to a few unsuccessful efforts over the ensuing years to have the color changed to something more traditional and befitting of Texas A&M.

Aside from that, the tower’s history during this time was mostly uneventful save for fall 1979, when campus construction dictated that multiple engineering classes temporarily relocate to two rooms under the water tower—a move that tested students’ focus and nerve. In a Battalion edition from that year, David Glass ’82 was quoted saying: “Whenever we hear any noises from men working outside, we all slowly look up to make sure it’s not coming from above.”

Both towers standing alongside each other

The updated water tower, watching proudly over Aggieland.

The Current Tower (1999-present)

Following an inspection that determined a new paint job was needed to prevent corrosion, it was resolved in 1999 to repaint the tower to better align with the campus landscape. Texas A&M paid $372,000 to have it completely repainted to a color called “Aggie Tan,” which was selected to match the surrounding buildings and nearby smokestack. Along with the new paint job came the return of the slogan “Welcome to Aggieland,” selectively angled to face Kyle Field. This time, the saying was also accompanied by the Texas A&M logo.

The current water tower, welcoming Aggies to Aggieland once again.

Beyond its visual significance, today’s tower plays a pivotal role in supporting Texas A&M’s daily operations. The tower allows the university to operate its own public water system registered with the State of Texas, which means campus functions like a small city from a utility standpoint. It ensures a reliable and clean water source for everyone on campus and water pressure for all campus facilities, ranging from dorms and academic buildings to Kyle Field. It also supports several facilities beyond campus such as Easterwood Airport and the Texas A&M Poultry Science Center.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of professionals works with Jones to maintain and operate the water tower, ensuring the needs of the ever-growing Aggie community are met. “Whether it’s ensuring we have drinkable water, supporting firefighting efforts or just standing tall as an icon, it’s an integral part of Texas A&M’s infrastructure,” Jones said.