Mount Tom State Park, State park in Litchfield, United States.
Mount Tom State Park is a nature preserve of roughly 231 acres in Connecticut, centered around Mount Tom Pond. A black gneiss tower sits at the park's summit and offers views toward Massachusetts and Long Island Sound.
The park was established in 1915 after Charles H. Senff donated the land in 1911, requiring that an observation tower remain at the summit. The black gneiss tower was designed and built by Alfred M. Turner in 1921.
The stone tower shows how people in the early 20th century chose to develop public recreation areas in Connecticut. Visitors today gather at the summit to take in the views and understand how communities valued outdoor access.
Visitors reach the tower via a roughly 1-mile (1.6 km) trail that climbs about 500 feet (152 m) in elevation. Parking is available near Mount Tom Pond.
The park displays black gneiss and schist with visible mineral bands of quartz and hornblende throughout its landscape. These rock formations are visible along the trails and reveal the geological story of the region.
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