Mount Morris Fire Watchtower

Designed by Julius Kroehl and completed in 1857, this 47-foot octagonal landmark serves as the final remainder of New York City’s original emergency lookout system. The structure, which features an intricate spiral staircase and an open-air observation lookout, was once used to spot fires across the city’s early skyline. While the tower itself remains closed to public entry, its presence atop the rocky rise of Marcus Garvey Park anchors a significant piece of 19th-century infrastructure. Visitors can encounter the massive, 5,000-pound Meneely bronze bell still mounted at the top, a relic from 1865 that stands as a testament to the community-led restoration efforts that preserved this cast-iron site.