Oak Ridge Observation Tower - Gettysburg National Military Park Historic District - Gettysburg, PA
N 39° 50.643 W 077° 14.516
18S E 308185 N 4412853
The Oak Ridge observation affords a fantastic view of Oak Ridge, a crestline of a hill that was the location of 1863 Battle of Gettysburg combat and at which the Eternal Light Peace Memorial was constructed for the battle's 50th reunion.
Waymark Code: WMB7K5
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 04/15/2011
Views: 10
The tower was actually much taller but the top was removed in the 60s. You can still climb to the top, as it is, and get a pretty decent view of Doubleday Avenue and the strong of monuments that run along the road. Parking is convenient and located right next to the tower.
From the nomination form:
1 of 3 towers erected by Park Commission still extant today, there were 5 built 1895-1896. Erected to "afford observer a complete & satisfactory view of entire scene of great battle & enable him to get a consistent & accurate idea of it as a whole."
Short Physical Description:
23' high, 22' sq. at observation area, 25' sq. at base. Stone & concrete pier foundation. Steps of 90 degree-change w/ landing to observation deck. No roof. Tower was lowered from orig 75'height. Overlooks town to E & Cemetery Ridge to SE.
Long Physical Description:
This steel tower is twenty-three foot high. It is twenty-two feet square at the railing of the observation platform and twenty-five foot square at the base. It has stone and concrete pier foundations. The tower has been significantly lowered from its original seventy-five feet by the National Park Service and no longer has a roof over the observation deck.
