Pagoda Gift Shop
Pagoda Gift Shop - Several years ago, I lived in Asia for two and a half years teaching English and traveling the continent. This experience gave me a greater appreciation for Asian culture and I always enjoy my trips to Pennsylvania. That's why Reading Pagoda has been high on my list of things to do in Reading, PA for a long time.
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Pagoda Gift Shop
Why it took me so long to get to the area to visit this special building, I don't know. However, I was glad to finally have the chance to check it out during a recent visit to Berks County, Pennsylvania. The Reading Pagoda sits high above the center of Reading atop Mount Penn, 620 feet above the city below.
The pagoda is a fine sight over the city and can be seen from many parts of both central Reading and west Reading. The pagoda was built between 1906 and 1908 by William A. Witman, Sr. Witman recently traveled to Japan and brought back a photograph of the pagoda on which the structure is based.
The Witman Pagoda will be the centerpiece of the Mount Penn Recreation Center and will be built in its own quarry. For various reasons, the complex never opened and, in 1910, Witman gave up his dream of it and sold the property to another local businessman.
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It was then given to the City of Reading in 1912. Today, the building has been lovingly restored and maintained by community and non-profit partners. It sits in the middle of the 1,200-acre Mount Penn Reservation, which also includes the Reading Fire Station. A path goes up the hill to the pagoda.
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Although the pagoda area is open all the time, the interior is only open on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. m. to 4:00 p.m. m. (Note: The interior is now closed. As I say below, the interior is interesting, but the main attraction is the outside area, because he, I won't leave it just because you can't go inside.)
The Reading Pagoda has seven floors, and the second floor is the level and the parking area and the gazebo. The entrance to the pagoda is from the gift shop on the first floor. Here you can buy souvenirs from the pagoda or enjoy a simple meal.
After paying a small donation, 87 stairs and narrow corridors lead to the top of the pagoda, about 40-50 feet above the parking lot below. At the top of the structure is a small viewing platform, with 360-degree windows for viewing in all directions. I was disappointed that the windows didn't open, but they were kept clean enough not to distract the view.
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The observatory has two coin-operated binoculars and a large iron bell. This bell was cast in Japan in 1739 in Obata, Mie Prefecture. Once he was in a Buddhist temple in Ogose o Hannō, north of Tokyo. When the temple was closed, Witman bought a bell in 1906 and arrived in Reading in 1907. It has hung above the Pagoda since it was built.
Before you leave the reading pagoda, be sure to visit the small art museum on the 6th floor. The museum displays a bit of history about the pagoda and artifacts from the early years, including many advertisements from the past decades. While admission to the pagoda is definitely worth the suggested $1 donation, the highlight of any visit to the area is the appearance of the pagoda itself and the sense of local lore.
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A small parking lot adjoins an observation deck that offers a spectacular view of the city at a depth of more than 600 feet. On a clear day, you can see 30 kilometers from here. Visitors can also walk through the main part of the pagoda, taking advantage of other unique opportunities and views of the pagoda.
Given Reading Pagoda's short operating time and the beauty of the view from outside the pagoda, you wouldn't plan your entire trip trying to visit it when it's open. However, if you visit on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, the cheap entry fee is small, but the interesting museum makes the visit worthwhile.
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I will however consider a visit to the top of Mount Penn to see the Reading Pagoda, this will be a good visit for anyone who loves the site or the great view. It's also one of the best Asian cultural sites in Pennsylvania, along with Shofuso in Philadelphia and the Maridon Museum in Western Pennsylvania.
The view from the pagoda, especially at sunset or after dark, is something to be on your list when visiting Berks County, Pennsylvania. Looking for another place to go nearby? Visit Nolde Forest, the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, the Berks County Covered Bridge and the Reading Public Museum.
Jim Cheney is the creator of UncoveringPA.com. Based in Carlisle, near Harrisburg, Jim frequently travels to Pennsylvania, visiting, writing and photographing all 67 counties in the state. He also traveled to more than 30 countries around the world. As a no-brainer, the Pagoda and the surrounding area were used in the filming of The Last Airbender.
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It's also worth noting that in the mouth and other than the first floor where the gift shop/food area is not climate controlled, which means that during the summer it gets very, very, very hot, especially on top of the ground. There is a bell.
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This is the best landmark in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. A unique experience to visit and explore. Marnie The same path that goes up the hillside is also worth mentioning. It is the Duryea road, now with two different hills each year, where Charles Duryea used to test his Duryea cars which were made in Reading in the early 20th century. I really enjoyed going to this area.
I was there in February 2020. Now… one concern: the amount of trash and broken glass in the parking lot really bothers me. Please don't do this... if you are visiting this area. They have a trash can there to throw away your trash. Don't throw it away and break the bottle.
He was taking pictures, but that didn't need to be there. I see the output…. and the other ignores...... that people throw their MC Donald's food out the window. I pray that those people do this……. for. Otherwise...it's worth the drive to this site and a visit.
It's very interesting. At one time there was a restaurant on the second floor. We had a special dinner there with the Dalys. I'm glad to have that experience. It's sad that it's gone. I think it is too expensive to maintain. I will visit again soon.
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