Reading, Pennsylvania, Attractions

Climb to the top of the 120-foot-tall Fire Tower for a panoramic view of Reading. Constructed from fire-proof materials in 1939, the tower was built over the remains of the city's Tower Hotel, which was destroyed by fire in 1923. You can climb to the top of the tower and enjoy the observation desk from noon to 5 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month. At other times, you can view the exterior of the tower and enjoy the picnic area. The Fire Tower is located above 4th and Penn Streets in Reading.

Stop by the Reading Community Players Theater when you're in town and watch local actors perform. The theater is one of the oldest community theaters in Pennsylvania, and regularly features plays that offer the Reading spin on Broadway favorites. You'll find the theater at 403 North 11th Street in Reading. New plays open at various times throughout the year.

You'll find the Central PA African-American Museum at the Old Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black-owned church in Berks County. Inside the museum, you'll see a collection of artifacts, objects, books and photographs that document the culture of African-Americans in the United States and in the Reading area. Visitors can also view the pit, the area on the lower level of the church where runaway slaves hid during the church's history as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The museum is located at 119 North 10th Street in Reading, and is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The Reading Public Museum offers an eclectic mix of exhibits ranging from Pennsylvania German folk art to dinosaur fossils to paintings and sculptures by Rodin and Degas. In addition to the museum, you'll want to visit the attached planetarium and stroll through the 25-acre arboretum. The planetarium offers star and laser shows that are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. The museum is located at 500 Museum Road in Reading, and is open every day except Monday and major holidays.

If you have an appreciation for old aircraft, you'll want to make time to stop by the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum. The museum contains over 60 old planes in various stages of restoration. A Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune bomber and a 1935 Kellet Autogiro are among the planes on display. If you're really adventurous, you can pay to experience a short flight in one of the planes. Flights last approximately 20 minutes and must be booked in advance. The museum is located at 11 Museum Drive in Reading, and is open every day except major holidays.