Garrison Hill Park and Tower
Dover, NH


Photo courtesy of Garrison Tower.

From this Dover tower at a 298 foot elevation visitors can see, on a clear day, both the Isles of Shoals and the White Mountains. From earliest times, this hill was a signaling site for Native Americans. The first wooden observatory was built here in 1880 along with a now defunct ice skating rink. The city of Dover purchased the 8-acre hill in 1888 and a tower was built in 1913 and later a ski slope for locals. By 1970 the deteriorated tower had to be fenced off by the city, but it was restored by a dedicated group of local citizens. Then in 1994 a new tower was built on the site of the original structure following 9000 hours of volunteer work.

HOURS: Closes at dusk
WEBSITE: http://rotary.dover.net/garr/history.html
ADMISSION: No fee. Donations accepted
ADDRESS: Abby Sawyer Road Dover, NH 03802
DIRECTIONS: From the center of Dover take Central Avenue and turn right at the rise of the road up Abby Sawyer Road, just before the entrance to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Park at the top.
LINKS: PHOTO TOUR of Tower,