Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
This gigantic statue once marked a radio station’s headquarters.
Huntoon Park Wren
The grand Masonic Hotel.
Napier Art Deco Historic Precinct
Military Cemetery for North Korean Soldiers
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel “RaZZ” Larson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, passes over the flight line at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, July 9, 2024
Who Swarmed Langley Air Force Base With Drones?
about 2 hours ago
Our producer Manolo Morales would spend his final days perusing the shelves at Book Off.
Where Would You Go to Wait for the Apocalypse?
1 day ago
This event showcasing the bounty of the Traverse City region’s amazing agriculture, craft, and creativity culminates with a Grand Tasting on August 23.
The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
2 days ago
She’ll get you and your little dog too.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Explore Witch History Without the Kitsch?
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Connecticut Meriden Traffic Control Tower

Traffic Control Tower

A human attendant once directed car traffic from this structure before automated stoplights.

Meriden, Connecticut

Added By
John Meszaros
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Short steps leading to the control tower.   Johnmeszaros / Atlas Obscura User
Short steps leading to the control tower.   Johnmeszaros / Atlas Obscura User
  missingfilm / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Historic sign   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
View from east   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
View from west   cl94 / Atlas Obscura User
A view of the control tower from the intersection.   Johnmeszaros / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque commemorating the control tower’s significance to Meriden history.   Johnmeszaros / Atlas Obscura User
The lights an attendant used to signal traffic.   Johnmeszaros / Atlas Obscura User
  Calvin the Courageous / Atlas Obscura User
A full view of the control tower.   Johnmeszaros / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the early days of the automobile, before automated streetlights were common, traffic at intersections was directed by an attendant in a control tower. This attendant would manually switch the familiar red, yellow, and green lights in a regulated pattern. 

In 1925, one such tower was installed at a high traffic crossroads in Meriden, Connecticut. The distinctive structure quickly became a popular landmark and often appeared on postcards from the city. The Meriden Daily News Journal even ran a news column in its paper titled The Traffic Tower in honor of the structure. During World War II, soldiers from Meriden stationed overseas would receive regular bulletins that featured a photo of the tower on the front page as a reminder of their town.

Though the traffic control tower was finally retired in 1967 and replaced with an automated light, fond memories remained. In 1975, the tower was purchased by a local company and relocated to a new spot a few blocks away from its original location. In 2019, the tower was restored to its former glory  

Related Tags

Cars Inventions History & Culture Traffic Lights

Know Before You Go

The tower can be found at the intersection of Perkins St. and Colony St. next to the railroad tracks.

Community Contributors

Added By

Johnmeszaros

Edited By

Collector of Experiences, missingfilm, cl94, Calvin the Courageous

  • Collector of Experiences
  • missingfilm
  • cl94
  • Calvin the Courageous

Published

November 9, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/Meriden-downtown,-traffic-tower-get-a-makeover.html
  • https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/29595
Traffic Control Tower
9 E Main St
Meriden, Connecticut, 06451
United States
41.53769, -72.802667
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Talcott Basalt Lava Pillows

Meriden, Connecticut

miles away

Castle Craig

Meriden, Connecticut

miles away

Powder Hill Dinosaur Park

Middlefield, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Meriden

Meriden

Connecticut

Places 3

Nearby Places

Talcott Basalt Lava Pillows

Meriden, Connecticut

miles away

Castle Craig

Meriden, Connecticut

miles away

Powder Hill Dinosaur Park

Middlefield, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Meriden

Meriden

Connecticut

Places 3

Related Places

  • Norman Breakey Monument

    Edward, Manitoba

    Breakey Monument

    Dedicated to the inventor of the paint roller.

  • Acetylene Gas Generating Station

    Herndon, Virginia

    Acetylene Gas Generating Station

    The birthplace of the Herndon Gas Company.

  • Cars in the Museum.

    Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

    Swigart Museum

    The oldest automobile museum in the United States.

  • Nashville, Tennessee

    Lane Motor Museum

    Located inside a former bread factory, this museum explores a century of transportation history through innovations that were extraordinary or failures—sometimes both.

  • The Bremer Car

    London, England

    The Bremer Car

    Likely the first car with an internal combustion engine constructed in the United Kingdom.

  • Thunder Dome Car Museum

    Enumclaw, Washington

    Thunder Dome Car Museum

    A sun-filled museum featuring an ever-rotating collection of classic and exotic cars.

  • Brazil Telephone Museum

    Vitória, Brazil

    Brazil Telephone Museum

    An emporium of communication in Vitória's Old City.

  • Motel Inn

    San Luis Obispo, California

    Motel Inn

    The world's first motel is now an administrative building for an apple farm.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.