The William Penn Memorial Fire Tower atop Mount Penn will celebrate its 87th anniversary in October with a public event featuring tower climbs, historical presentations and an exploration of the surrounding grounds.
The anniversary celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the tower, 621 Skyline Drive in Reading. The event will be open to the public.
Completed in 1939, the stone tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks overlooking Reading. During the anniversary event, local Skyline historians Corrie Crupi and Mike Reinert will discuss the construction of the tower and the Works Progress Administration era that helped shape the Mount Penn landscape.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to explore the forestry surrounding the site while learning about remnants of the former Gravity Railroad, the Summit House hotel and other pieces of Mount Penn history.
Free climbs inside the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower will be offered during the event. Groups of up to 20 people will be permitted approximately 20 minutes for each climbing session.
The climb includes 156 steps to the top of the tower, which offers panoramic views stretching as far as 60 miles under favorable conditions. Visitors can also explore the surrounding grounds, which contain features dating to the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps era.
Vintage-inspired tower souvenirs and Mount Penn merchandise will be available for purchase. Those who climb the tower will receive a free “I Saved The Tower” button while supplies last.
Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and may picnic on the tower grounds. Organizers are asking visitors to carry out larger trash and other items they bring to the property. Personal music devices and speakers will not be permitted in an effort to maintain a quiet atmosphere.
The anniversary also coincides with the introduction of “Tower Sundays,” a regular schedule that will open the landmark to visitors from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays during the second, third and fourth quarters of the year through 2027.
A new William Penn Memorial Fire Tower website has also been launched to provide schedule information, weather-related updates and information about upcoming events. Visitors can also sign up for “TowerTalk” notifications through the website.