Castle Craig


Castle Craig, located on East Peak in the Hanging Hills, is constructed of trap rock and is in height and has a base in circumference. A metal interior stairway is used to ascend the observation deck on top. It stands above sea level and provides an expansive view of the greater Meriden, Connecticut area.

Origin and details

Castle Craig, dedicated October 29, 1900 and given to the people of Meriden, Connecticut by Walter Hubbard is part of the Hubbard Park named after Hubbard. There are hiking trails to the tower as well as Reservoir Road which is open for vehicular traffic from May 1 to October 31 - 10 AM to 4:45 PM. Walkers and joggers are allowed use of this road 365 days of the year during normal park operating hours which is basically sunrise to sunset. From the top of the observation tower, elevation, it is possible to see New Haven and Long Island Sound to the south. To the west, the foothills of the Berkshires are visible; to the north, the Hartford skyline as well as the summit of Mount Tom in Massachusetts.
The inspiration for the tower's design has been disputed for years. Some say Walter Hubbard, a world traveler, was inspired by a Norman French tower; others by a 12th Century Turkish tower on the Danube; still others maintain that it was patterned upon an ancient tower in Craigellachie, Scotland.

Dedication of Tower

On October 29, 1900 dedicatory exercises were held at which Mr. Hubbard formally presented the Tower to the City of Meriden. According to a local newspaper,

Plaque

A plaque at the bottom of the tower reads as follows:
Although the plaque indicates that East Peak is "the highest point within of the coast from Maine to Florida," West Peak, just to the west, at 1,024 feet, is higher than both East Peak and the tower. Both East and West Peak are lower than a number of mountains in the Downeast coastal region of Maine.