Higginson Tower

Higginson Tower stands near Vankleek Hill in Champlain, Ontario, Canada, a 19th-century tower with an unusual history that led it to become one of the region's earliest private observatories.

About Higginson Tower

The tower was built around 1830 by Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Higginson, originally as a windmill for grinding wheat and corn. When the site turned out to have insufficient wind for the mill to work, Higginson converted it instead into what became the first private observatory in Eastern Ontario.

History

After its windmill venture failed, the tower later served as a lookout point during the Fenian Raids of 1866. Champlain Township acquired the property around 2004, and the Higginson Tower Committee restored it between 2004 and 2006. It reopened for public visits in September 2006, and a five-year lease running from January 2024 to December 2028 keeps the committee operating the site for a nominal $2.50 a year.

Location & getting there

Higginson Tower is in the North America region, in Champlain, Ontario, Canada, near the town of Vankleek Hill. Its rural eastern Ontario setting, well outside major urban centres, adds to its appeal as a historic viewpoint.

Visiting Higginson Tower

The tower has been open to the public, with free admission, since its restoration reopened in September 2006. Check with the Higginson Tower Committee or local township for current opening times before visiting.

See your named star from here

A tower that began life as a windmill and became Eastern Ontario's first private observatory is a fitting stop for anyone who's named a star with Star Register. Bring your certificate's coordinates and see if you can trace your star from this historic vantage point. Search the star catalogue to find your star.