High Rock Tower in Lynn: the tower, observatory and how to visit
A 1905 stone tower on High Rock with an observatory, long Hutchinson Family Singer ties, a 110-step climb and skyline views—what to know before you go.
High Rock Tower sits on a hill at 30 Circuit Avenue and the city lists High Rock Park as open from sunrise to sunset. The stone tower tops a small reservation that has long been a gathering place in Lynn.
What High Rock Tower and the park are
High Rock Park (listed at 30 Circuit Avenue) is a city park with the facility shown as open; park hours are sunrise to sunset, according to Lynn Parks & Recreation.
The stone High Rock Tower is a hilltop tower and public vantage point recorded in local and state historic inventories for its cultural and historic value.
The observatory and public ‘Starry Night’ events
The tower functions as an observatory on a City of Lynn schedule and the site hosts public observing programs called ‘Starry Night’, which bring volunteers and astronomers to run telescope sessions, according to press coverage in The Daily Item.
Local volunteers and university astronomers have staffed those programs, giving visitors a chance to view planets, the Moon, nebulae and star clusters through the tower telescope.
Hutchinson Family Singers: music on the hill
High Rock has long ties to the Hutchinson Family Singers. Members of the Hutchinson family lived on High Rock and used the hill as a place for gatherings and performances in the mid-1800s, according to the Lynn Museum & Arts Center.
Jesse Hutchinson built a cottage on High Rock, and the family drew large picnic crowds to the hill for musical events.
Getting there: parking, the climb and the grounds
Visitors should plan for limited on-street parking near the park.
Inside, expect a climb of about 110 steps to the telescope platform, according to the Daily Item.
High Rock Tower sits inside the High Rock Tower Reservation and surrounding parkland that is recognized in state and local historic documentation for its cultural importance.
The view from the top
From the top, the views take in the Boston skyline, Nahant and the coastline.
To pair the visit with time by the water, see our guides to Lynn Beach and Lynn Shore Drive and Nahant Beach.
Before you go
The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. For telescope nights, watch the events calendar and city announcements for Starry Night public observing sessions, and check the Lynn weather forecast for clear skies.
The Lynn Museum provides programs and historical interpretation about the tower’s spiritualist and cultural roles and the Hutchinson-family connections if you’d like background before or after a visit. For general visitor planning around Lynn, the Discover Lynn visitor guide can help with other nearby attractions.
Sources: Lynn Parks and Recreation (City of Lynn); The Daily Item; Lynn Museum & Arts Center (article/video about High Rock Tower history); Library of Congress (map: Home of the Hutchinson Family, High Rock, Lynn, Mass.); Library of Congress blog; Massachusetts Historical Commission.
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