Croton Distributing Reservoir

Croton Distributing Reservoir
Granite walls surrounded the above-ground reservoir
Croton Distributing Reservoir
Croton Distributing Reservoir
Croton Distributing Reservoir
Location42nd Street and Fifth Avenue
Manhattan, New York
Coordinates40°45′12″N 73°58′57″W / 40.75333°N 73.98250°W / 40.75333; -73.98250
TypeReservoir
EtymologyCroton River
River sourcesCroton River
Basin countriesUnited States
BuiltMay 1837 (1837-05)
Construction engineerJames Renwick Jr.
John B. Jervis
Thomas Price & Son
First floodedJuly 4, 1842 (1842-07-04)
Surface area4 acres (16,000 m2)
Water volume20 million US gallons (76,000 m3)
Location
Interactive map of Croton Distributing Reservoir

The Croton Distributing Reservoir, also known as the Murray Hill Reservoir, was an above-ground reservoir at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Covering 4 acres (16,000 m2) and holding 20 million US gallons (76,000 m3), it supplied the city with drinking water during the 19th century. Its massive 50-foot-high (15 m) granite walls, which presented a vaguely Egyptian-style facade, were 25 feet (7.6 m) thick. Atop the walls was a public promenade offering panoramic views; Edgar Allan Poe enjoyed walking there.