Robert A. Taft Memorial

The Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon is a carillon dedicated as a memorial to U.S. Senator Robert A. Taft, son of President William Howard Taft.

The memorial is located north of the Capitol, on Constitution Avenue between New Jersey Avenue and First Street, N.W. Designed by architect Douglas W. Orr, the memorial consists of a Tennessee marble tower and a convert|10|ft|m|sing=on bronze statue of Senator Taft sculpted by Wheeler Williams. The shaft of the tower measures convert|100|ft|m high, convert|11|ft|m deep, and convert|32|ft|m wide. Above the statue is inscribed, "This Memorial to Robert A. Taft, presented by the people to the Congress of the United States, stands as a tribute to the honesty, indomitable courage, and high principles of free government symbolized by his life." The base of the memorial measures 55 by convert|45|ft|m and stands approximately convert|15|ft|m high. Jets of water flow into a basin that rings the base.

The twenty-seven bells in the upper part of the tower were cast in the Paccard Bell Foundry in Annecy-le-Vieux, France. The largest, or bourdon bell, weighs 7 tons (6350 kg). At the dedication ceremony on April 14, 1959, former President Herbert Hoover stated, "When these great bells ring out, it will be a summons to integrity and courage." The large central bell strikes on the hour, while the smaller fixed bells chime on the quarter-hour. By resolution of Congress, they play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July.

Construction of the memorial was authorized by S. Con. Res. 44 (84th Congress, 1st session), which was passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in July 1955. It was funded by popular subscription from every state in the nation. More than a million dollars was collected.

External links

* [http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0000110.htm Robert A. Taft Memorial] at dcmemorials.com

References

* [http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/art_arch/taft.cfm The Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon] , Architect of the Capitol
* [http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Taft_Bell_Tower.htm April 14, 1959: Taft Bell Tower Dedicated] , United States Senate Historical Minutes