National Register of Historic Places

Hunter Mountain Fire Tower

Hunter, Greene County, New York
Listed
June 29, 1997
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
97000569

About this property

The Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is located on the summit of the eponymous mountain, second highest of the Catskill Mountains in the U.S. state of New York. It was the first of 23 fire lookout towers built by the state in the region, and the next-to-last of the five still standing to be abandoned. Today it remains a popular attraction for hikers climbing the mountain. After it fell into disrepair in the 1990s and was recommended for removal by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which had operated the tower, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Local enthusiasts were able to raise money, matched by DEC, to restore the tower and adjacent observer's cabin to serve as a museum, with volunteers in the cab on some weekends. Panoramic views of not only the mountains but the adjacent Hudson Valley, Massachusetts, Connecticut and sometimes southwestern Vermont are available from it. Likewise, it can be seen from many of the surrounding mountains, the village of Hunter and the upper slopes of the ski area. It is the highest fire tower still standing in the state and the second-highest in the entire Northeast.

Location

Hunter, Greene County, New York
42.18591, -74.24850

Categories

ARCHITECTUREENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONCONSERVATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Hunter Synagogue
Industrial
2.4 mi
IOOF Hall
Industrial
2.4 mi
Fischel, Harry, House
Early Republic
2.4 mi
St. Mary's of the Mountain Church
Industrial
2.8 mi
Elka Park Historic District
Listed
4.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hunter Mountain Fire Tower listed on the National Register?

Hunter Mountain Fire Tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1997.

What type of historic resource is Hunter Mountain Fire Tower?

Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hunter Mountain Fire Tower?

The period of significance for Hunter Mountain Fire Tower is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hunter Mountain Fire Tower?

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