Heublein Tower
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Heublein Tower
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| Location | Simsbury, Connecticut |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Smith and Bassette |
| NRHP Reference # | 83001260 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1983 |
The 165-foot-tall (50 m) Heublein Tower (pronounced HIGH-bline) located in Talcott Mountain State Park in Connecticut (USA) provides panoramic views of the Hartford skyline and the Farmington River Valley that are particularly spectacular in the fall. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Gilbert Heublein was a magnate in the area of food and beverage, most notably as manufacturer of A1 Steak Sauce and Smirnoff Vodka; he founded Heublein Inc.
While hiking with his fiance Louise M. Gundlach on Talcott Mountain, he promised her that one day he would build her a castle there.
Designed by Smith and Bassette to survive 100 MPH winds, and built by T. R. Fox and Son in 1914, the Heublein Tower served as Gilbert Heublein's summer home and retreat. Smith and Bassette also designed the north and south wings of Governor's Mansion in 1916. Truly an architectural marvel, Mr. Heublein modeled this structure after buildings in his native homeland of Bavaria. Standing 165 feet tall and situated 1,000 ft. above the Farmington Valley, one can see for several dozen miles in all directions from the top floor observation lounge.
The structure consists of a steel frame of 12-inch girders achored into the bedrock of the mountain ridge. The four columns in the four corners extend up to the second level and are made of reinforced concrete. A system of cross-girder braces adds strength to the shaft and cross-beams support the floors. It is also the site of the first home elevator in Connecticut.
Due to fires and other disasters, the tower has been rebuilt several times over the last several decades.
The Heublein Tower is managed by the State of Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Restoration and support of the Tower interior is funded in large part by the work of the non-profit organization, The Friends of Heublein Tower. The Friends' organization was established in 1985 and is dedicated to preserving and restoring the Heublein Tower and its surrounding estate.
The Friends' mission is to restore for public use the Connecticut state-owned Heublein Tower landmark to its original and authentic 1914 splendor. By providing time, talent and financial assistance, the Friends of Heublein Tower supplements the state of Connecticut's efforts in restoring, improving and interpreting the Heublein Tower and its surrounding grounds. The restored Tower serves as a museum and a place of learning for the educational benefit of the public.
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