In an era before wristwatches and cellphones, people often relied on clock towers as a means of timekeeping. These architectural landmarks once synchronized the daily life of entire neighborhoods and towns. They’d signal the start of the working day and the closing of local shops. Visible from afar, clock towers were also seen as symbols of civic pride. As such, they’re associated with meticulous craftsmanship and artistic flair. Here are seven of the coolest clock towers in the United States that have stood the test of time.
Allen-Bradley Clock Tower – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Rising 283 feet tall, the Allen-Bradley Clock Tower is an icon of the Milwaukee skyline, especially when illuminated at night. Sitting atop what is now the headquarters of Rockwell Automation, the tower was unveiled on Halloween Eve in 1962. It features four 40-foot-wide clock faces, which — at the time of the unveiling — were the largest in the world. Each of the hour hands measures almost 16 feet, while the minute hands are 20 feet long. Locals once nicknamed the tower the “Polish Moon,” due to its location in a largely Polish district. The tower also houses a top-floor private bar, which is open to the public during the annual Doors Open Milwaukee.
Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower – Baltimore, Maryland
Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower (originally named Emerson Tower) is a 15-story, 289-foot-tall landmark in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Completed in 1911, its design is inspired by the Renaissance Revival style of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. On the tower’s four clock faces, the traditional numbers are replaced with the letters of its namesake antacid company. The name “Bromo” runs clockwise, with “seltzer” appearing counterclockwise. After being abandoned in the early 2000s, the tower was reimagined as a space for studios and workshops for artists, jewelers, photographers, and writers. It’s open to the public on Saturdays, when you can browse art exhibitions and delve into the history of the Bromo Seltzer company at the museum inside.
Custom House Tower – Boston, Massachusetts
Built in 1915 as an extension to Boston’s Custom House, the Custom House Tower was one of the city’s first skyscrapers. At the time, city code limited buildings to 125 feet; however, an exception was granted to construct this 496-foot-tall tower. Its Greek Revival-style facade mirrors that of the building it soars above. First occupied with offices for collecting taxes and monitoring maritime trade, the building has, since 1996, operated as a luxury timeshare property and hotel. Fortunately, it’s not necessary to book a room to enjoy the hotel’s magnificent views. Daily tours take visitors to an outdoor observation deck on the 26th floor. From there, it’s possible to spot other major Boston landmarks including Boston Harbor and Bunker Hill Monument.
McGraw Tower – Ithaca, New York
Standing within the campus of Cornell University, McGraw Tower commands an imposing presence from across Ithaca. Erected in 1891, this 173-foot masonry tower is named after a close friend of university co-founder Ezra Cornell. Originally part of a library, today the tower is more famous for the Cornell Chimes concerts. Up to three times a day, classic and modern music is played on 21 bells and can be heard throughout the campus. To secure the honor of becoming chimemaster, around 40 students take part in a 10-week-long competition each year. On select occasions, it’s also possible to climb the tower’s 161 steps to witness the bell ringing in person.
Purdue Bell Tower – West Lafayette, Indiana
Stroll around the campus of Purdue University and you’ll hear the sound of bells on the hour, half-hour, and at the end of classes. These chimes resonate from Purdue Bell Tower and its four bells. Completed in 1995 thanks to donations from alumni, the 160-foot-tall structure mimics the design of a previous tower atop Heavilon Hall. This emblematic campus landmark, which features clocks on each of its four sides, is shrouded in legend. One states that if students walk across its seal, they won’t graduate in four years. Another says that if couples kiss beneath it and then walk to the nearby Stone Lions Fountain, they’ll go on to be married.
Sather Tower – Berkeley, California
An icon of the University of California, Berkeley, the 307-foot-tall Sather Tower is the third-tallest bell-and-clock tower in the world. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, it’s often called the “Campanile” due to its likeness to Venice’s Campanile di San Marco. The tower is much more than an architectural masterpiece, though. Carillon concerts ring out three times a day, and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock once performed here in 1968. Moreover, five levels of the tower are used to store a fossil collection of over 300,000 objects. Visitors can check out an observation deck with views that reach over San Francisco Bay and toward Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
UT Tower – Austin, Texas
Since its inauguration in 1937, UT Tower has celebrated the achievements and milestones of the University of Texas (and its students, staff, and alumni) through its illuminations. The windows of the towers can be configured to show the number one, the letters “UT,” and the graduating year of a class. The tower has elements of the Beaux-Arts and Spanish Revival architectural styles, and its four clocks feature gold-leaf-gilded rims and hands, in addition to ornamental Egyptian, Greek, and Latin letters. Crowning the landmark is the 56-bell Knicker Carilion, which chimes on the quarter-hour. Students of the Butler School of Music also regularly perform songs such as the state anthem, “Texas Our Texas.”
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