Mount Tremper Fire Observation Station
Why it's listed
Atop the 2,740-foot summit of Mt. Tremper in the Catskill Forest Preserve stands a 47-foot steel fire tower, erected in 1917 and prefabricated by the Aermotor Corporation. A 2.5-mile jeep and hiking trail, with culverts, swales and retaining walls, climbs to it from the base of the mountain. The tower has a square steel cab on a riveted and bolted angular frame, with steel stairs in nine flights. The state Conservation Commission selected the mountain as its eighth Catskill tower site because it overlooked state lands not visible from other stations. William Smith served as first observer, reporting six fires in 1917 and 30 in his final year, 1930, while hundreds of hikers visited him. A lightning strike damaged the tower in 1966, and the station closed in 1971 when the state turned to aircraft surveillance. The tower's roof is now rusted and some treads are missing, though the structure remains intact and awaits restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under criteria A and C for its association with the New York State Forest Preserve and as a representative early twentieth century fire observation station with a tower and associated trail. The site was chosen because it overlooked large state-owned areas not visible from other Catskill stations. The tower is typical of the heavier steel type with integral staircases built by the Conservation Commission.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 01001032, listed September 23, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Mount Tremper, Shandaken |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | September 23, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001032 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1917-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Aermotor Corporation (tower manufacturer) |
| Architectural style | No Style/Utilitarian (fire tower) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Entertainment/Recreation, Conservation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as not in use; the tower roof is rusted and wind-damaged and some wood treads and landings are missing, but the structure is otherwise intact and awaiting restoration. The trails remain in active recreational use. |
| Acreage | 9.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.26404, -74.30968 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 01001032.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6924192
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.