This is a look up through the center of the famous William Penn Memorial Fire Tower which stands along side the Skyline Drive and over looks the City of Reading Pennsylvania at a height of 120 feet and towering 950 feet above the city.
Built in 1939, the tower is owned by the City of Reading. The Pa Bureau of Forestry stopped using the tower in 1988 citing safety concerns because of the deteriorating condition of the inside of the tower and the 120 steel steps. A significant renovation project has taken place over the years and the stairs were all replaced by the same company that initially installed them back in 1939. Some of the before and after photos of the internal structure renovations can be found here http://www.pagodaskyline.org/tower/damage2.html. More information on the tower can be found on this web site www.pagodaskyline.org/tower.
The structure is open for the public the third Saturday of each month but it was also open this past Sunday when I ventured up there. You can climb to the top and take in the fantastic 30 mile 360 degree view but you better be in shape. That’s one steep climb and unless you are in top physical shape, it will kick your ass as it did mine.
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