Bowman's Hill Tower
During the week between Christmas 2016 and the 2017 New Year, my wife and I drove to Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania to spend the day hiking and sight-seeing. In this post I'd like to share some images from our visit to Bowman's Hill Tower.
Bowman's Hill Tower is part of Washington Crossing Historic Park and was completed in 1931 as commemoration to the American Revolution which took place between 1765 and 1783.
While certainly not counted among the world's tallest structures, I can attest to the fact that it provides a great view of the Delaware River and the surrounding countryside in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They say, that on a clear day, you get a 14-mile radius view of the Delaware River Valley.
A Brief History
In this condensed history lesson about Bowman's Hill Tower, I'll be quoting from The Friends of Washington Crossing Park. They recap the story better than I could:
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Tower is that it existed during General George Washington’s day. In reality, it was built of local field stone in 1929-31 to commemorate what may have been a lookout point for Washington’s troops to watch for enemy activity on the Delaware River. Today, historians consider using Bowman’s Hill for a lookout to be more oral tradition than documented fact, however.
Construction of the Tower took nearly two years to complete. More than 2,400 tons of materials were used, including 1,200 perches of native stone from the hill and nearby stone fences, cut stone from local quarries, 517 tons of sand and 225 tons of cement. Workers excavated 15-feet deep so that the 24–foot-squared base would rest on a bedrock foundation. With construction done entirely by the Washington Crossing Park Commission employees, the total cost of the Tower was $100,000, including labor and materials.
Soon after the tower’s construction, workers planted 28,300 seedlings in the area to reforest the hill like people thought it would have been in Washington’s time. Some of those seedlings have become today’s towering trees on Bowman’s Hill. Due to the Tower’s height, lightning strikes were an ongoing problem. To improve safety and eliminate damage to the Tower, the National Lightning Protection Company of St. Louis, MO installed a lightning protection system on the building. The vandalized, broken copper cables that visitors see hanging down its sides were part of this system. With the installation of new cables that are not copper, the system still operates today.
In the early 1980s, the Bowman’s Hill Tower underwent extensive restoration. An elevator was installed that takes visitors three-quarters of the way to the top, although it still is necessary to climb the last 23 steps to reach the outside observation deck. Previously, visitors had to climb a spiral staircase all the way to the top of the Tower. Today, visitors can choose which way they would like to reach the top.
There was a small visitor's center where you could get a map and learn a little about the history of Bowman's Hill Tower. Admission was $6 USD each.
The Tower is 125 feet tall, but stands at about 380 feet above sea level. The base of the Tower is 24-feet square.
"It may be doubted whether so small a number of men ever employed so short a space of time with greater and more lasting effects upon the history of the world." - Sir George Otto Trevelyan
There were several rectangular windows that afforded some views of the surroundings from within the tower.
The rickety painted wooden door that serves as the final barrier to entry at the top. It was certainly abused by many of the tourists that felt compelled to leave their mark.
It seems that every tall structure these days has the obligatory rat's nest of communications equipment marring the appearance at the top.
As also shown in this post's opening image, this photo shows a portion of a large star that serves to decorate Bowman's Hill Tower for the Christmas season. We didn't get to see it illuminated at night, but I'm sure that it would have been visible for quite a distance!
It was very cold and windy at the top and I really had no thoughts what-so-ever of jumping off of Bowman's Hill Tower. But I'm glad that they had my safety in mind! On a windy day, and without that safety fence, you could easily be blown off the tower.
The first bridge that you can barely make out in the distance is the New Hope–Lambertville Bridge where you can walk across between New Jersey (Lambertville, stage-right) and Pennsylvania (New Hope, stage-left). The next image below will show you a closer view of this bridge.
Living in the shadow of Bowman's Hill Tower.
The spiraled stone staircase was a little scarier walking down than it was walking up. There was barely enough room for people to pass in opposite directions. During the 1980's, an elevator was added that takes you most of the way to the top. The elevator wasn't in operation while we were there, but we preferred the ambiance of the spiral staircase.
All images (except as noted below) @cognoscere and taken on December 30, 2016 at Bowman's Hill Tower in Washington Crossing, PA (Sony RX100 V)
great posting... thanks for sharing...^^
Glad you enjoyed it @abdullar! It was an interesting visit to Bowman's Hill Tower and we plan on going back in the spring/summer/fall when everything is alive with color.
I should go see this next time I am back in America.
Yeah, it's definitely worth a visit. Plus the general area is nice too and there is Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve which we plan on visiting in the spring/summer months.
Follow you for more and, Yes your post is great! Cheers!
Thanks @the-future, followed back.