Traveling Through Time: Uncovering the History and Legacy of Bancroft Tower
Welcome to the “Travel in Time with Dan Show,” where we mix travel, history, and leadership. Today, we are exploring a structure that looks like a medieval castle but is situated right here in Worcester, Massachusetts: the Bancroft Tower.
Built in 1900, this remarkable structure offers a fascinating look into the wealth and ambition of the American Gilded Age.
The Age of “Super Crazy Money”
The Bancroft Tower is a classic product of the Gilded Age, a period defined by extraordinary wealth concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people—industrialists like Rockefeller or Vanderbilt. These individuals had so much money that they built fantastic things simply because they had more than they knew what to do with.
This particular piece of Gilded Age architecture was built by Stephen Salisbury III. His family were very wealthy industrialists right in Worcester, Massachusetts. The tower stands today in Salisbury Park, situated up from Salisbury Road, near where the Salisbury mansion is located.
A Monument to a Childhood Buddy
What makes this tower especially interesting is the reason why Salisbury III built it. He created this elaborate structure for his father’s childhood buddy, George Bancroft. Few people possess the kind of wealth that allows them to construct such a monumental tribute for a friend of the family.
Upon looking into George Bancroft, it becomes clear that he was quite an accomplished individual who “deserves to be remembered”. Bancroft’s notable achievements include:
- Writing a 10-volume U.S. history.
- Serving as the Secretary of the Navy.
- Working as an ambassador.
- Founding the Naval Academy.
Bancroft’s name is highly recognized, and he is remembered in many places, not just through this tower. He was already deceased when the Bancroft Tower was opened.
A Structure That Is “Good for Nothing”
The Bancroft Tower is specifically classified as a monument folly. A folly is defined as a structure that is not truly useful for anything.
While it might look a little like a defensive stronghold, it is not. It is also not a suitable place for someone to live, as it is “really skinny”. The tower’s sole function is to act as a monument dedicated to the memory of George Bancroft.
A cool connection for fans of our show is that the Bancroft Tower was built on the seven hills in Worcester. This parallels another structure we covered, Gillette Castle, which was built on one of the seven sister hills in East Haddam, Connecticut.
Pastimes and Preservation
After Stephen Salisbury III passed away, the tower went through several caretakers. Initially, he gave it to an arts museum to watch over, and later, the parks department took control.
Over the years, the tower and surrounding park served as a popular public space:
- People held weddings and picnics here.
- Sometimes people would climb the tower.
- The area was also associated with ghost stories.
Interestingly, the Bancroft Tower is the last of three such structures that were originally built.
Unfortunately, around the 1980s, the public use got “out of control,” too much partying, and the tower was closed down. Today, the Bancroft Tower is only open a couple of days a year, with some of those limited openings occurring in October.
The Leadership Principle: Legacy
The history of the Bancroft Tower offers a powerful lesson in legacy.
Both George Bancroft and Stephen Salisbury III created lasting legacies. Bancroft’s legacy is rooted in his historical contributions as an historian and the Naval Academy. Salisbury’s legacy is embodied by the creation of the tower itself, which is still standing today.
The connection between the men and the monument highlights how crucial it is to remember the past, as doing so helps us to shape the present and inspire the future.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership. The Travel in Time Show is where travel, history, and leadership intermingle with history teacher, author, and speaker Dan Blanchard
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