William Penn Memorial Fire Tower stands near the summit of Mount Penn above Reading, Pennsylvania, combining scenic tourism with forest fire observation. The current tower, built in 1938 and 1939 through a Works Progress Administration project, replaced an 1889 wooden tourist tower that burned in 1923. Designed by Grover Cleveland Freeman, it reused the earlier foundation and was constructed of concrete, stone, and steel, with decorative features unusual for a fire lookout. After drawing large crowds and serving for years as a working observation post, it fell into disrepair, closed in 1988, and was later restored and reopened in 2004 as a prominent landmark of Reading’s skyline heritage.

Reading, Pennsylvania · USA