Bowman's Hill Tower: A View Through Time

Rising 125 feet above the trees on Bowman’s Hill, a unique stone tower offers amazing views in Bucks County. On a clear day, visitors can see nearly 14 miles in every direction, taking in the rolling landscape that surrounds Washington Crossing. Located near the intersection of Route 32 and Lurgan Road within Washington Crossing Historic Park, Bowman’s Hill Tower has remained a popular landmark for generations. Locals and visitors return season after season to climb to the top to take in the beauty of the area.

“It’s a very unusual structure; it’s almost designed like a medieval castle tower in the middle of Bucks County,” says Friends of Washington Crossing Park’s Visitor Services Coordinator Gaetano “Guy” Sava III. “Visitors are very intrigued and want to know all the details of when it was built, why it was built, and who built it.”

For Sava, the curiosity of the tower goes back further than his current job. He grew up in Bucks County and became interested in the structure when he visited it as a boy. His interest deepened when he chose Bowman’s Hill Tower as the focus of his Eagle Scout project.

From Intrigue to Action

Sava started his service project at age 14 and completed it when he was 18, in 2011. He researched the history of the tower, then built brackets that would eventually display signs containing information based on his research. He also spearheaded repair projects, including repainting the railings and doors as part of his project.

At 17, Sava was hired as a seasonal weekend tour guide for the tower since he had researched the site and had deep knowledge of its history. Just two weeks into the job, Hurricane Sandy hit, forcing the tower to temporarily close for repairs. While closed, he learned more about other aspects of the park before returning to the tower when it reopened.

After graduating from Temple University with a degree in business, Sava was hired full-time and has been sharing his expertise in all aspects of Washington Crossing Historic Park for the past 12 years. With his love of history and tourism, he says having a career here was a natural transition. “As a history buff and growing up near this major historic site, it’s the perfect fit,” he says. “It’s very cathartic as a historian to be able to talk about the history of the tower and the revolution.”

History Revealed

In 1926, the nation was celebrating the 150th anniversary of America, sparking interest in preserving, commemorating, and promoting sites connected to the American Revolution. The creation of Bowman’s Hill Tower was a state project designed by Pennsylvania state architect Arthur Cowell, with construction work done by Washington Crossing Park Commission employees. Construction began in 1929, and the 125-foot tower was erected in 1930. Visitors would have to wait another year before they could climb to the top. The tower officially opened to the public in September 1931.

“The tower was, in a sense, built to commemorate Bowman’s Hill, which was believed to have been used as a lookout during the Revolution,” Sava says. “It could give people the same sort of view Gen. George Washington’s troops would have had to watch for enemy activity along the Delaware River. The tower was also built to be the centerpiece of the recreational development of the Upper Park, surrounded by walking paths and picnic pavilions.”

Building the stone tower atop the hill was no small undertaking. Throughout the roughly two years of construction, workers used approximately 2,400 tons of material, including nearly 20,00 feet of native stone gathered from the hill and nearby stone fences, cut stone from local quarries, 517 tons of sand, and 225 tons of cement.

Even after the tower itself was finished, there was still work to be done before the public could enter. A railing for the staircase needed to be sourced and installed, and a lightning rod was also a necessity because the tower was struck four times during construction. Landscaping was also added to beautify the attraction.

Bowman’s Hill Tower has always remained remarkably accessible to the public. It was closed only for an extended period from the late 1970s until 1984, when it underwent repairs and an elevator was installed, and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when the tower was closed, visitors could still enjoy the surrounding Bowman’s Hill area.

The distinctive stonework and medieval appearance of the tower are exhilarating to see in person. Whether visitors make their way up the 125 steps or take the elevator, the lookout is an added reward with its breathtaking views.

Pops of Color

For the third year in a row, Bucks County has been named a top leaf-peeping destination in the United States, according to Priceline and TravelAwaits. Within the county, the views from Bowman’s Hill Tower are especially popular for their scenic beauty. The attraction draws approximately 40,000 visitors each year, with fall being the busiest period.

“When you look out from the top, the area is heavily wooded, so you get a very nice pantheon of colors all blending together, and it attracts a lot of people who come to see the fall colors,” Sava says. “If you go up later in the day, right before sunset during the golden hour, the sun gets low and that golden hue reflects off of the yellow leaves. It’s very striking.”

Victoria Rinner enjoys visiting from Philadelphia to hike up the hill and tower with her young daughter, mother, and dogs. “It’s such a beautiful place to visit,” she says. “There’s always a sense of peace and tranquility while you’re there. Once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding area, and I also really appreciate the historical significance of the tower.”

Although fall may bring the biggest crowds, Sava says the scenery is worth experiencing throughout the year. During the winter and early spring, before the leaves grow back, the landscape opens up in a different way. Features once hidden by foliage become visible, offering a chance to notice things visitors may have missed during warmer months. In summer, the views include people tubing down the Delaware River and endless fields of greenery.

For many, it’s nostalgia that brings them back to Bowman’s Hill again and again. Sava says he frequently encounters adults who fondly remember visiting the site as children with their parents, running up and down the stairs. When he sees children experience the tower for the first time, he notices that it inspires a sense of wonder, as they imagine themselves in a fairy tale or call it Rapunzel’s tower.

Doylestown resident Kylie McCullough Ruggieri recently brought her three young sons to the tower for the first time. “We loved it, it was so scenic,” she says. “My boys enjoyed climbing the stairs to the top, and they all loved riding the elevator down. It’s a neat local attraction for kids that has a lot of history.”

The tower also has been a backdrop for people celebrating milestone events. “One of my favorite stories is when someone proposed to his wife at the top of the tower,” Sava says. “Now it’s their pilgrimage every year—to go to the spot where they got engaged.”

Bowman’s Hill Tower has welcomed locals and tourists for generations and remains a defining feature of Upper Makefield’s rural character. It takes approximately three minutes to walk to the top or five minutes by elevator, and for nearly 100 years visitors have stood at the same high point, looking over the gorgeous landscape and enjoying the beauty of the community below.

Dari Kotzker is the editor of Upper Makefield magazine. She has worked as a reporter in television news and print media since 2001 and resides in Bucks County with her husband and four kids.

Photograph by Lucent Reflections Photography (Lucy Espejel)