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Walnut Hill Reservoir: Nearly 150 Years of Omaha History Set to Disappear

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Recent news suggests that the massive reservoir tanks that have stored water at Walnut Hill for nearly 150 years will soon be removed and the site redeveloped. The news led me to research it before heading to 38th and Cuming Street to get another look before it changes for good.

Built by the City Water Works, a private company, in 1881, it is part of the original water system originally intended for fire protection. Located between Hamilton and Nicholas Streets and between 38th and 40th Streets, it drew water from the Missouri River via a pumping station near Burt Street. The reservoir was designed by engineer H.H. Cook and its construction was supervised by Chester B. Davis.

1926 photo of the renovated Walnut Hill Reservoir. This is the entrance at 38th and Lafayette Ave. From the Bostwick-Frohardt/KMTV Photograph Collection, permanently housed at The Durham Museum.

Dr. Samuel Mercer acquired the farmland one year prior and sold a portion of it to the water company so that it could build the reservoir. In the area, Mercer established the Walnut Hill neighborhood and built his mansion at the northeast corner of 40th and Cuming Street in 1887. By this time, the reservoir had become known as Walnut Hill Reservoir.

With its two large basins capable of holding approximately 11 million gallons of water each, the reservoir began drawing water from the Florence Water Works a few years later. The company that became Metropolitan Utilities District took over the water works in 1913.

1926 photo of the renovated Walnut Hill Reservoir. This is looking east at the fountains from the top of the hill. From the Bostwick-Frohardt/KMTV Photograph Collection, permanently housed at The Durham Museum.

One of the neighborhood’s key amenities was the park which covered about half of the reservoir’s 16 acres. After the original pump burned down in 1915, there had been discussion of using the park land for residential development before being saved as a result of protests by the Bemis Park Improvement Club. Afterward, MUD set out to create a comprehensive plan for the park surrounding the reservoir. Despite Parks Superintendent W.R. Adams being loaned to the utility to help beautify it, it failed to meet expectations.

At that point, they hired George E. Kessler, a German native living in St. Louis that was considered to be the country’s leading landscape architect, to redesign the grounds. He declared the site “the logical spot to serve as the hub” for the north end of the city’s boulevard system. Kessler told the Omaha World-Herald of the park grounds that, “the high point affords a fine opportunity, and the grounds are easy to finish in an artistic way.” The fountain and cascade were likely installed to illustrate his point.

1924 photo of the pumping station designed by Latenser & Son at Walnut Hill Reservoir. From the Bostwick-Frohardt/KMTV Photograph Collection, permanently housed at The Durham Museum.

The grounds were graded and adorned with trees, shrubs, and flowers. 39th Street was turned into Mercer Boulevard and extended from Cuming Street to Park Road which looped around the reservoir before exiting on Hamilton Street. A trail from Lafayette Avenue led to stairs that reached the top of the reservoir, where the new Renaissance-style pumping station sat. Designed by Latenser & Son architects, the structure had an observatory on its roof that sat more than 1,272 feet above sea level and offered spectacular views of the growing downtown skyline. The path cut in between the reservoirs and continued down a set of stairs before exiting at 40th Street.

1921 photo of the pavilion on top of the pumping station. At some point, the pavilion was removed. From the Bostwick-Frohardt/KMTV Photograph Collection, permanently housed at The Durham Museum.

Additional improvements in 1926 resulted in the entrance facing 38th Street that included a double set of stairs with a sign in between that read “Walnut Hill Reservoir” in addition to a long sidewalk, lined with trees, benches, and globe lights. It led to a second set of stairs and a fountain with its color-changing lights that the newspaper described as “a city show place with rainbow lights reflecting on its waters after dark.” Beyond the fountain, a third set of stairs wrapped around a circular seating area to a second fountain.

While a concrete roof supported by pillars was built over the top of the reservoirs in 1929, the park with its amphitheater-like surroundings remained a popular site for celebrations including concerts. The fountain and its 18-inch-deep wading pool were a popular spot for young children to cool off during the summer months.

1947 photo of the pavilion on top of the pumping station. At some point, the pavilion was removed. From the Savage Collection, permanently housed at The Durham Museum.

By the late 1940s, the pool was taken over by teenagers and temporarily closed due to complaints that they often changed clothes in the open. At some point thereafter, the fountain and pool were reopened only to be shut down again in 1958 as they were deemed unsafe and unsanitary. Over the years, the park suffered from vandalism and the wrought-iron fence was replaced with a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. By that time, the 40th Street entrance was no longer used and its crumbling stairs were removed. The views from atop the pumping station also disappeared after it lost its rooftop pavilion.

2026 OE photo of the entrance to Walnut Hill Reservoir and park.

The neighborhood fought back and successfully campaigned to turn the fountain and its lights back on two years later though the pool stayed closed behind a fence to keep children out. The basins received a new protective covering that resembled an umbrella. Designed by HDR and built by Hawkins Construction Company in 1962, the curved shells would “guarantee against contamination and would serve as protection against fall-out” according to MUD. The reservoir was designated an American Water Landmark by the American Water Works Association in 1981.

2026 OE photo of the stairs at Walnut Hill Reservoir that lead to the pumping station.

The on-again, off-again fountain had ceased operation in the decades that followed but fundraising efforts of neighbors and MUD restored it in 1990, followed by the installation of 12 gas lights, new benches, and flowers. Though it never regained its early popularity, the fountain attracted children and even hosted concerts once again.

2026 OE photo of the fountain at Walnut Hill Park.

While MUD continued to operate the fountain, the reservoir itself, was taken out of service in 2009 while the pumping station remained as a backup. At that time, the city solicited feedback from the community on what to do with the land. Timothy Cavanaugh, MUD board member, told WOWT in 2026: “We want to be good stewards with this. We want the use of the property to fit with the neighborhood. At the same time, we have a duty to the ratepayers to get the best deal, but we want to combine that with the best use of the property for the neighborhood.”

2026 OE photo of the pumping station at Walnut Hill Park.

Once considered the crown jewel of Omaha’s water system, the reservoirs will soon bid adieu. Meanwhile, the historic pumping station will remain as will the fountain. Whatever comes next for the freed-up land, neighbors hope that it will not only benefit the neighborhood but also be something they can embrace.

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Read OE on Grow Omaha: Local History by Omaha Exploration | Grow Omaha

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