Valley Forge Observation Tower, King of Prussia, Montgomery County, PA

Significance: The Valley Forge Observation Tower is an example of facilities built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century to provide overviews of historical and scenic areas. The tower was built on the summit of Mount Joy, the highest point in Valley Forge State Park. It was based on plans and specifications prepared by Colonel Emmor B. Cope, engineer with the Gettysburg National Military Park, where four similar towers had been constructed in 1895-1896. The "observatory" was intended to provide a view of the historic campground where George Washington and the Continental Army spent the winter from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778.
Survey number: HAER PA-114
Building/structure dates: 1906 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 66000657