This park in the San Juan Islands has a stunning replica of a 12th century watchtower

Washington has its fair share of wild and wacky things, including a real stone tower replica of a Russian watchtower from the 12th century. Normally this sort of tower would have graced the Caucasus region but instead, it sits on top of Orcas Island’s Mount Constitution. And yes, you can visit it.

The watchtower is one of many amazing projects completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. In addition to the watchtower, the CCC also constructed the road and bridges that lead all the way up to the summit of Mount Constitution.

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From the top of the tower, visitors can see a 360-degree view of the Puget Sound, Mount Baker, the North Cascades, and the other islands of the San Juan Archipelago.

The combo of the tower’s handiwork and the resulting view make visiting it a must if you’re planning on heading to Moran State Park. Not to mention you can explore the park’s 5,400+ acres which include a lake, tons of hiking trails, and beaches.

You can visit the park year-round and summer is as good a time as any to check it out. Enjoy!

Moran State Park

Where: Orcas Island, WA

Information on Moran State Park is from Moran State Park and Washington State Parks and is accurate as of publication date.