The Thomas and Vivian A. Wong Honor Tower is officially open in Greenville’s Unity Park.
Elected officials, community leaders and local residents gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the 125-foot observation tower for Veterans Day on Nov. 11. The tower sits near Unity Park’s Auro Bridge and Mayberry Park.
Greenville Mayor Knox White said the tower offers a place to honor first responders and military veterans. Honor Tower’s name and design pays tribute to the armed forces, fire, police, emergency medical services, public health, medical services, utilities and public works.
The nearly $11 million observation tower was created using public and private funding. A total of $5.63 million in private funding was raised for the project, including a $1 million donation from Vivian Wong and her late husband, Thomas.
“This tower is strength and unity. This is my honor,” Vivian Wong said.
Honor Tower was designed by Endrestudio, a California-based architecture firm, and constructed by Greenville-base Harper General Contractors. Construction of the tower began in April 2024, prior to a groundbreaking ceremony in June.
Read more about Unity Park’s Honor Tower
“We believe the Honor Tower will stand not only as an icon for the city of Greenville, but as one of the most impactful, dramatic and meaningful works in our firm’s history,” said Paul Endres, principal of Endrestudio.
The tower’s observation deck sits 99 feet above ground, offering 360-degree views of downtown Greenville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors can take the tower’s circular staircase or the glass-walled elevator to travel up to the observation deck.
At night, the tower will be internally lit to stand as a beacon within Unity Park.
Honor Tower will be open to the public starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14. The tower will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It will be closed on Mondays and on city holidays.
General admission for the tower will be free. According to the city, visitors have 30 minutes of access to the tower per visit. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. Bags will also not be allowed within the tower.
For more information, visit greenvillesc.gov/1868/Honor-Tower.
