Mount Rutsen

Mount Rutsen
Mount Rutsen Location of Mount Rutsen within New York Show map of New York Adirondack Park Mount Rutsen Mount Rutsen (the United States) Show map of the United States
Highest point
Elevation	335 feet (102 m)[1]
Coordinates	41°57′24″N 73°55′37″W[1]
Geography
Location	Dutchess County, New York, U.S.
Topo map	USGS Kingston East

Mount Rutsen is a mountain in New York. It is located in the 200-acre (0.81 km^2) Ferncliff Forest, west-northwest of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County. The Mount Rutsen (Ferncliff) Fire Tower is located at the summit.

History

On Mount Rutsen an old stone observation tower was built by the Astors.[2] A second tower was built for the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey to help with map-making. Finally, the second tower was built during World War II by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a watch tower.[3] This enclosed tower contained a telephone as well as utilities for full-time occupation[2] so that enemy planes could be spotted. This tower was particularly useful in watching out for planes attempting to attack President Roosevelt's home and those approaching New York City.[3] After the war, the tower became a popular attraction and was purely recreational.[2] In 2006, the tower was deemed unsafe and was replaced in 2007 by the current observation tower.[3]

External links

• The Fire Towers of New York

References

1. "Mount Rutsen". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
2. Buff, Sheila (March 25, 2009). "A Look-Out Falls in Ferncliff Forest" (PDF). About Town. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
3. "Rhinebeck NY - Ferncliff Forest". www.ferncliffforest.org. Retrieved November 29, 2021.