Towers
The Castle Crag tower situated in Hubbard Park, Meriden, is a round stone observation tower similar in architecture to the castellated towers of Craigellachie Bridge in Scotland. Trails lead to the tower, where visitors can then climb the interior stairwell to the observation deck. You'll have panoramic views of the local area, Long Island Sound and the Berkshires on a clear day. Trails are open from April to October.
Sleeping Giant Tower is at the summit of Mount Carmel in Hamden. Visitors can take the scenic 1.6-mile Tower Path or the more difficult and rocky Blue Trail to reach the peak of Mount Carmel. Once atop the four-story stone tower, visitors are rewarded with a vista of New Haven, Long Island Sound and Connecticut's rolling hills.
Hubbard Park
460 Liberty St.
Meriden, CT 06450-4530
203-630-4259
cityofmeriden.org/CMS/default.asp?CMS_PageID=426
Sleeping Giant State Park
200 Mount Carmel Ave.
Hamden, CT 06518
203-789-7498
ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325264
Civil War Monuments
Built of granite rock, the Winchester Soldier's Monument in downtown Winsted is positioned atop Camp Hill and honors those who served in the Civil War. Its Gothic Revival style is reminiscent of the feudal tower on the banks of the Arno River in Florence, Italy. Visitors can climb the wooden stairwell to view Winsted and the surrounding scenery.
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Hartford's Bushnell Park is the first permanent commemorative arch constructed in the U.S. This American Civil War monument was made of brownstone in the Gothic style. A bronze angel tops each of its two medieval towers, which are bridged in terracotta. Visitors can ascend the arch stairway and view the Hartford area's landscape. Tower tours are sponsored by the Bushnell Park Foundation.
Bushnell Park Foundation
31 Pratt St.
Hartford, CT 06103-1630
860-232-6710
bushnellpark.org
Soldier's Monument and Memorial Park
Crown Street
P.O. Box 322
Winsted, CT 06098
commission@soldiersmonumentwinsted.org
Lighthouses
The brick and granite New London Ledge Lighthouse is set at the entrance of New London Harbor. Rumored to be haunted, it was one of the last lighthouses to be built in New England. It retains a distinctive red brick and mansard-style roof with granite detailing.
The granite and wood Penfield Reef Lighthouse is located 1.1 miles off Fairfield Beach on Long Island Sound. Also said to be haunted, this active lighthouse is closed to the public but can be viewed by boat. You can take local harbor cruises that circumnavigate the lighthouse during the summer.
New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation
P.O. Box 855
New London, CT 06320
lighthouse.cc/newlondonledge/index.html
Beacon Preservation
117 Main St.
Ansonia, CT 06401
203 -736-9300, ext. 398
beaconpreservation.org/content/publish/penfield_light.shtml
