I've always admired the Pagoda from a distance but never had time to visit. The main purpose for today's drive to Reading was for one purpose: to visit the Pagoda.
The Pagoda stands 620 feet above the City of Reading, PA. Completed in 1908, it was originally intended to be a luxury resort atop Mt. Penn. Due to financial problems, William A. Witman, Sr. never opened the Pagoda.
The citizens and the City of Reading have owned the Pagoda since 1911.
The views from the Pagoda are phenomenal.
The Pagoda is seven stories high.
There are 87 steps to the top of the Pagoda.
The bell on the top floor was cast in Japan in 1739, and William A. Witman, Sr. purchased the bell in 1906. The bell was shipped to New York and arrived in Reading in 1907 by rail.
~ A view from the top floor of the Pagoda looking west over Reading ~
~ The stairs going down from the top floor ~
Check out the colors.
~ A gold fish on top of the roof ~
The walls of the Pagoda are five feet thick at the base.
~ Another view overlooking Reading, PA ~
~ Reading, PA ~
