Heublein Tower
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The 165-foot tall Heublein Tower located in Talcott Mountain State Park in Connecticut (USA) provides panoramic views of the Hartford skyline and the Farmington River Valley that are particularly spectacular in the fall.
Designed by Smith and Bassette to survive 100 MPH winds, and built by T. R. Fox and Son in 1914, the Heublein Tower served as Gilbert Heublein's summer home and retreat. Tryly an architectural marvel, Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria. Standing 165 feet tall and situated 1,000 ft. above the Farmington Valley, one can see for several hundred miles in all directions from the top floor observation lounge.
The structure consist of a steel frame of 12-inch girders achored into the bedrock of the mountain ridge. The four columns in the four corners extend up to the second level and are made of reinforced concrete. A system of cross-girder braces adds strength to the shaft and cross-beams support the floors.
Many famous people have been guests at the tower, which is where the Republicans asked General Dwight Eisenhower to run for president.
During the '40s and 50's, WTHT, an FM station operated by The Hartford Times, used the tower as its antenna site.
