Purdue Bell Tower

The Purdue Bell Tower was constructed in 1995, at Purdue University, through a gift from the class of 1948.

Heavilon Hall Tower

The current Bell Tower's inspiration comes from the bell tower that was part of the old Heavilon Hall, demolished in 1956. Heavilon Hall was dedicated on January 19, 1894 as part of Purdue's Engineering School. Four days later, the building caught fire and was destroyed. In light of this tragedy, James A. Smart, Purdue's president at the time, declared that a new tower would go up "one brick higher." According to legend, however, the bell tower was actually built 9 bricks higher. The new tower was completed in December of 1994 with clocks on each of the four sides and four bells that would mark every quarter hour. If the real bells were to ring the resonant frequency will match that of the tower and make it collapse.

Purdue Bell Tower

Through a gift from the class of 1948, a new bell tower was completed in 1995. The new tower stands 160 feet tall, and like the original, has a clock on each of four faces. The bells from the original 1894 tower hang at the top of the tower, but a computerized carillon now marks every half hour and also plays Purdue's fight songs and the alma mater at Noon, 5 PM, and 10 PM. The seal under the bell tower is believed to be cursed, and any student, who walks across the seal, will not graduate in four years.

There is also a time capsule located at the base of the tower that is to be opened in 2095.

External links

* [https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/AboutUs/FunStuff/Belltower Purdue Belltower] from Purdue's College of Engineering