Remarkable Ohio

Counties

Below is a complete listing of all Ohio Historical Markers. To find a detailed marker listing including text, photographs, and locations, click on a county below. Our listing is updated by the markers program as new markers are installed and older markers are reported damaged or missing.

42-31 Ohio’s First Publicly Owned Water System

Side A: On June 25, 1839, Greater Cincinnati Water Works became the first publicly owned water system in Ohio, when the city purchased a privately owned water company in operation since 1821. This purchase required approval of the voters of Cincinnati and authorization by the Ohio State Legislature. The Water Works, with two steam pumps at this site, three and a half miles of iron pipe, and 19 miles of wooden pipe, provided one million gallons of water per day. Front Street Pumping Station (ruins at this site) replaced earlier facilities and operated from 1865 to1907.
Side B: Same
Sponsors: Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The International Paper Company Foundation, and The Ohio Historical Society
Address: 801 E. Pete Rose Way, Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point, 
Cincinnati, 
OH, 
Location: Sawyer Point Park, Ohio River Front, just E (upriver) of the I-471 bridge over the Ohio River
Latitude: 39.1024950
Longitude: -84.4956210