Iowa Hawkeyes Water Tower Bobble Unveiled

MILWAUKEE – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled an officially licensed, limited-edition Iowa Hawkeyes Water Tower Bobble. This marks the first bobble featuring the University of Iowa’s Hawkins Drive water tower, which is being removed this summer. Located outside of Kinnick Stadium on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, the legendary structure overlooking Duke Slater Field has been a recognizable backdrop for countless memorable moments for the Iowa Hawkeyes since it was built in 1960. The special edition bobble is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Iowa.

The water tower bobble is positioned on a green circular base with a grass-like texture. The front of the water tower features the iconic Tigerhawk logo, while the back features the Iowa logo. Both logos on the white structure are in black and gold. The bobbles, which will be individually numbered to 2,026, are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. Expected to ship in December, the bobbles cost $30 each, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

Built in 1960 with a capacity of approximately 750,000 gallons, the Hawkins Drive water tower provided a valuable water supply to much of the University of Iowa campus. A prominent part of Kinnick Stadium lore, the removal of the water tower will make way for Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital’s new adult inpatient tower that will connect to the main hospital and allow for more patients to receive cutting-edge care. The university constructed a newer, significantly larger-capacity water tower in March in Parking Lot 75, located northwest of the football practice fields and near Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The new tower, which also features Tigerhawk and Iowa logos, has a capacity of 2.7 million gallons of water, which will meet the needs of the campus and surrounding healthcare facilities.

Removal work of the Hawkins Drive water tower started on Friday, July 10th and will continue during weekends through the end of August. The tower will be safely dismantled in sections and lowered piece by piece using a crane and specialized equipment. To pay homage to the structure, hundreds of fans, students, and alumni gathered at Kinnick Stadium and took family photos and selfies with the tower in the background. The removal of the water tower is expected to be completed before the Hawkeyes kick off the 2026 football season against Northern Illinois on Saturday, September 5th at Kinnick Stadium.

“We’re excited to unveil the first bobble featuring the iconic Hawkins Drive water tower, which was a staple in Iowa City for nearly 70 years,’” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Overlooking the northeast corner of Kinnick Stadium, the legendary structure made its presence felt and was a special part of the campus scenery. This bobble will be a must-have for those who want to fondly remember the beloved Hawkins Drive water tower.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.