The Greylock Coach, showing the typical conveyance to the summit from North Adams or Williamstown, around 1908.

In the early 1800s Americans were eager to explore the natural wonders of their young country. The proximity of Mount Greylock to both Boston and New York made the mountain a popular destination. Completion of the Pittsfield and Albany Railroad in 1844, and the Hoosac Tunnel in 1876 which created a direct link to Boston, brought great numbers of visitors to the northern Berkshire region. Literary figures Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau were among the many who espoused the power and beauty of the majestic mountain. Greylock summit also began to attract those with scientific interests. The high elevation and unique climate made the summit an excellent source for meteorological information, and in 1830-31 students from nearby Williams College constructed the first observatory tower on the summit.

Though farming began to decline after the mid-1800s, industry was expanding rapidly. The forested mountain slopes were a source for timber and charcoal to power the growing local industries of iron smelting, glassmaking and textiles. Denuded slopes were often subject to landslides and forest fires, resulting in public outcry at the desecration of the mountain, prompting its first major protection effort.

Postcard view of the summit house and iron tower, around 1915.

Determined to save Mt. Greylock, a group of concerned Berkshire County citizens formed the Greylock Park Association in 1885 and purchased 400 acres around the summit. With 42 shareholders and an 11-member Board of Directors, the Association was one of the first private land conservation organizations in Massachusetts.

Focused on protecting the summit from further encroachment and promoting recreation, the Association built a new road from the notch in North Adams to the summit. In 1889 a new iron tower replaced the second wooden scientific observation tower built in 1841 by Williams College. A road toll and admission fee to the tower financed the Association's efforts, but the costs of maintaining the facility eventually surpassed their means. Without adequate funding, the Association turned to the Commonwealth for assistance.