Reading Pagoda | Reading

The Reading Pagoda — Mount Penn, Reading, Pennsylvania

Origins and Construction

Concept and Finances (1906 – 1908)

Conceived by William A. Whitman, a quarry magnate who planned a luxury mountaintop resort to revive interest in his failing stone quarry.

Designed by local engineer Charles C. Muhlenberg and inspired by Japanese mountain temples; seven tiers, each successively smaller, creating the classic pagoda silhouette.

Built of 16-inch-thick brick walls faced with terra-cotta tiles; interior structure uses massive yellow-pine beams anchored in concrete.

Construction cost: roughly $50,000 (about $1.6 million in 2025 dollars).

Abandoned Hotel Dream

A proposed cliffside hotel never materialized because the city denied a liquor license and investors withdrew.

Whitman, unable to maintain the property, deeded the Pagoda and ten surrounding acres to the City of Reading for one dollar in 1909, stipulating it remain open to the public.

Architecture and Physical Details

Dimensions: 50 ft long × 28 ft wide × 72 ft high; foundation sits at 886 ft above sea level on Mount Penn’s southern slope.

Levels:

Stone-faced terrace and entry lobby.

Former tea room (now gift shop).

Exhibit gallery with early photographs and quarry artifacts.

Fireplace lounge with original Moravian tile hearths.

Museum floor displaying Japanese lanterns, swords, and Reading industrial memorabilia.

Bell chamber housing a 610-lb bronze temple bell cast in 1739 in Obata, Japan; rung only for New Year’s Eve and special civic events.

Glass-enclosed observation deck offering 30-mile panoramic views of the Schuylkill River valley, Blue Mountain ridge, and downtown Reading.

Exterior Features

Cedar-shake eaves with upturned corners, copper finials, and carved dragon gargoyles.

Terraced gardens with Japanese maples and stone lanterns installed during a 1926 civic beautification project.

Neon outline added in 1960; 224 red tubes trace each tier and switch to green-and-white during December.

Restoration Milestones

1911 – City refurbished interior as a public café; installed mahogany staircases and mosaic tile floors.

1949 – Adopted as Reading’s official emblem; appears on police badges and municipal stationery.

1969 – Structural stabilization: replaced failing roof beams, added lightning protection.

2008 – $1.3 million restoration: removed asbestos, repaired terra-cotta tiles, restored murals by artist George “Blue” Kalymonos depicting Berks County history.

2022 – Energy-efficient LED lighting retrofit and ADA-compliant entrance ramp.

Visitor Experience

Hours (typical): March–December, Friday–Sunday, noon–6 p.m. (grounds open daily dawn–11 p.m.).

Admission: Building entry by donation; suggested $5 adults, $3 youth; parking and grounds free.

Amenities:

Pagoda Café serving coffee, slate-roasted pretzels, and Japanese-inspired snacks.

Gift shop with Pagoda-themed merchandise and local crafts.

Restrooms on the second floor; baby-changing station added in 2024.

Surroundings and Recreation

Mount Penn Preserve: 1,000 acres of municipal forest connecting Antietam Lake Park to Neversink Mountain.

Trails:

Pagoda Road – 1.5-mile scenic drive from City Park.

Witch’s Hat Trail – 0.8-mile loop encircling the Pagoda with interpretive panels on geology and flora.

Gravity Railroad Trail – repurposed 19th-century railbed for hiking and mountain biking.

Programs and Events

Lantern-lighting ceremony each June honoring Reading’s sister city, Reutlingen, Germany.

Skyline Series summer concerts featuring regional jazz and folk artists on the terrace.

Pagoda Pacers 10K trail run every October, finishing under the neon-lit eaves at dusk.

Docent-led architecture tours for school groups, highlighting Asian influence and local masonry techniques.

Annual New Year’s Eve bell ringing at midnight, preceded by fire-spinning and a hot-chocolate social.

Cultural Significance

The Pagoda has served as Reading’s most recognizable landmark for over a century, blending Japanese architectural motifs with Pennsylvania craftsmanship. It symbolizes the city’s resilience, having transitioned from an unrealized commercial venture to a civic treasure that anchors community identity, tourism, and outdoor recreation.