Bancroft Tower

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title: "Bancroft Tower" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["monuments-and-memorials-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places-in-massachusetts", "towers-in-massachusetts", "castles-in-massachusetts", "buildings-and-structures-in-worcester,-massachusetts", "folly-buildings-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places", "landmarks-in-worcester,-massachusetts", "national-register-of-historic-places-in-worcester,-massachusetts"] topic_path: "general/monuments-and-memorials-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places-in-massachusetts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bancroft_Tower" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox NRHP"]

FieldValue
nameBancroft Tower
imageBankroft Tower.jpg
captionBancroft Tower
locationBancroft Tower Rd., Worcester, Massachusetts
coordinates
locmapinMassachusetts#USA
built
architectEarle & Fisher
architectureRomanesque
addedMarch 5, 1980
area1 acre
mpsub
refnum80000524
::

| name = Bancroft Tower | nrhp_type = | image = Bankroft Tower.jpg | caption = Bancroft Tower | location = Bancroft Tower Rd., Worcester, Massachusetts | coordinates = | locmapin = Massachusetts#USA | built = | architect = Earle & Fisher | architecture = Romanesque | added = March 5, 1980 | area = 1 acre | mpsub = | refnum = 80000524 Bancroft Tower is a 56 ft tower of granite and natural stone, which looks like a miniature feudal castle. It is in Salisbury Park, in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. The folly was erected in 1900, in memory of George Bancroft, a native of Worcester and a politician, historian, and statesman. The tower was designed by Worcester architects Earle and Fisher, and cost about $15,000 to build. Bancroft Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Description

Bancroft Tower stands northwest of downtown Worcester, in Salisbury Park, a public park west of Park Avenue and south of Drury Lane. It is a two-story stone structure, built of boulders and cobbles, with a rock-faced granite exterior. It is asymmetrical in plan, with crenelated square towers at the corners and a taller, off-center circular tower in between. To one side of that tower is an arched gate.

History

This tower was erected by Stephen Salisbury III in honor of George Bancroft, a prominent historian and statesman, who had been a childhood friend of Salisbury's father. It was one of three towers built on high points of the city, and is the only one to survive. The park and tower remained in Salisbury's ownership until his death in 1907. The tower was bequeathed to the Worcester Art Museum, which gave it to the Worcester Parks Department in 1912. The Bancroft tower was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.

Plaque

A plaque set in the ground in front of it explains its purpose:

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Bancroft_Plate.jpg" caption="Plaque"] ::

::quote

BANCROFT TOWER

THIS TOWER WAS BUILT IN 1900

TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF

GEORGE BANCROFT

1800–1891

BORN AT THE FOOT OF THIS HILL

HE ROSE TO THE POSTS OF

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

FOUNDER OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND

U.S. MINISTER TO GREAT BRITAIN

AND GERMANY

THIS MEMORIAL WAS BUILT BY HIS

FRIEND AND ADMIRER

STEPHEN SALISBURY III

::

Two half-compasses are set in the ground before and behind the tower. They are marked as if they pointed to the other six of the Seven Hills of Worcester (Bancroft Hill being one of the seven); but it doesn't appear, from the top of the hill, that they really do.

Gallery

Image:Bancroft Tower, October 13 2013.jpg|Bancroft Tower, October 13, 2013 Image:Bankroft Tower View.jpg|Bancroft Tower Park, 5/31/2009 Image:Bankroft Tower Rd.jpg|Bancroft Tower Rd, 5/31/2009

References

References

  1. {{NRISref
  2. [http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Bancroft_Tower Bancroft Tower – Archiplanet]
  3. "DPW Parks, Recreation & Cemetery – Salisbury Park".
  4. "NRHP nomination for Bancroft Tower". Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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