Century Tower (University of Florida)

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University of Florida campus
Century Tower, at the University of Florida
Century Tower
Use Tower
Style Memorial
Erected 1953
Location Main campus
Architect
Website UF Carillon Home Page

Century Tower is a 157 foot tall carillon tower in the center of the University of Florida campus, adjacent to a Turlington Plaza.[1][2]

Built in 1953 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of UF's parent institution, Kingsbury Academy in Ocala, it also serves as a memorial for students killed in the world wars.[1][2]

[edit] About the carillon

  • It has 51 bells and a range span of 5 octaves.
  • The entire carillon weighs 57,760 pounds.
  • The smallest bell in Century Tower plays a high C, weighs 26 pounds and has a diameter of 7-1/8 inches.
  • The largest bell, called the Bourdon bell, plays a low A-sharp. It is five feet tall, weighs about 7,000 pounds and is five feet, nine inches in diameter.
  • The carillon chimes each quarter of the hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Students at the university can take a carillon class, where they are required to climb the 194 steps in Century Tower to play the bells for a grade.
  • The carillon is played using 61 keys (or “batons”) for the hands and 25 pedals for the feet. The musician sits in a small room just below the bell chamber.
  • There are fewer than 200 carillons in North America and only four in Florida.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b A Unique University - Century Tower
  2. ^ a b History of Century Tower

[edit] External links

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