The historic Highland Park water tower will be open for the public to explore free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 and Oct. 15.

Visitors can climb 151 steps to the top to view the Highland Park area, the Mississippi River and St. Paul from the observation deck, 127 feet above ground.

“Partly, we open it because people are curious about the building,” said Jodi Wallin, St. Paul Regional Water Services representative. “If it’s super clear, you can really see far out.”

The tower is open in July, during Highland Fest, and every second weekend in October. “We try to hit the fall colors,” she said.

The tower sees about 2,000 visitors each open house, Wallin said, and four water services employees will be at the tower to answer any questions about water.

Clarence Wigington, a St. Paul city architect, designed the tower, which was completed in 1928. It held about 200,000 gallons of water until it was taken out of commission last year, Wallin said.

“The construction of the Highland Water Tower includes facings of Kasota and Bedford stone,” said a news release from St. Paul Regional Water Services. “A collection of several original Highland Tower blueprints, many of which bear Wigington’s signature, will be on display inside the tower.”