Rising above Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus is one of Montgomery County’s most recognizable and unusual landmarks, a massive water tank painted to resemble the Earth and known locally as the “Earthoid.”
The Earthoid is not just decorative. It is a fully functional water storage tank with a capacity of about two million gallons, owned and operated by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC). According to Montgomery College, the tank plays an important role in water distribution for the Germantown area while also serving as a piece of public art that has become part of the community’s identity.
Atlas Obscura shares that the tank was constructed in 1978 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. Rather than leaving it as a plain steel structure, Montgomery College students were invited to help shape its appearance. Students voted to have the tank painted as a globe, reflecting both environmental awareness and a desire to turn an industrial structure into something visually meaningful.
Artist Peter Freudenberg was selected to paint the mural. He and his team used satellite imagery and National Geographic reference materials to create a detailed and accurate depiction of Earth, complete with continents, oceans, and cloud patterns. The painting process took roughly two months to complete.
Montgomery College wrote in 2019 that the nickname “Earthoid” was adopted soon after and has remained ever since. In 1980, the tank received national recognition when it was named Steel Tank of the Year by the Steel Plate Fabricators Association, honoring both its engineering and design.
Over the years, the Earthoid has sparked discussion whenever repainting or maintenance is required. The Patch writes that in 2011, WSSC considered alternative designs during a repainting process, including themes unrelated to the globe. Ultimately, the decision was made to preserve the original Earth design due to its popularity and its strong association with the Montgomery College campus. The nearby academic building named Globe Hall further reinforces that connection.
Today, the Earthoid remains a beloved Germantown landmark, easily visible from nearby roads and often pointed out to visitors as a uniquely Montgomery County sight.