A Pagoda in Reading, PA ?
By
Clare Novak
Posted: 2020-01-16T02:06:00Z
What’s a pagoda doing in Reading? The Pagoda, located atop Mt. Penn, has been a landmark in Reading, PA for over 100 years. Of course, the Pagoda has an interesting story. Mr. William A. Witman, Sr. owned a stone quarry on Mt. Penn. As the quarry was expanded, the citizens of Reading noted that the quarry gave a bleak view to the city. Mr. Witman was convinced to stop quarrying and start a new venture. Witman envisioned the Pagoda as a luxury resort, but unable to attain a liquor license and facing financial problems, the Pagoda never opened. Today, it is owned by the City of Reading. It is open to visitors on weekends by donation and houses a small café.
Fun facts about the Pagoda: http://readingpagoda.com
- Only Pagoda in the world with a fireplace and chimney
- It is 7 stories high, 28 feet wide, 50 feet long - standing 620 feet above the City of Reading and 866 feet above sea level
- Anchored to the mountainside the 16 tons of bolts
- There is a total of 87 steps to the top
The view from Mt. Penn, overlooking Reading and the Schuylkill River is fantastic. In fall, this would be a great leaf peeping spot. Just down Skyline Drive from the Pagoda is another landmark, the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower. The tower, which is owned by the City of Reading, was built in 1939 as a fire observation tower and tourist attraction. It is 120 feet tall and if you climb to the top, you are rewarded with a 60-mile panoramic view of the wooded hills of Berks County.
Fire Tower Facts: https://www.pagodaskyline.org/tower
- The top of the tower is 983 feet above the center of the city
- 1,046 feet above the Schuylkill River
- 1,239 feet above sea level
The Fire Tower and the Pagoda have limited hours and are open only during weekends. It is best to check the websites if you want to go inside the buildings. Neither building is handicapped accessible inside. Of course, everyone can enjoy the view.
Clare Novak travels far and near. She started her travel website and blogs in 2018, seeking to share the world’s beauty and delightful experiences. Ms. Novak is an international consultant in Human Resources, Gender Equality and Leadership. She has published business books and articles and speaks on those topics for international Conferences. When at home in Pennsylvania, she travels locally to discover interesting places.