- Prayer Tower
The Prayer Tower is a late
Googie design-influencedtower located on the campus ofOral Roberts University inTulsa, Oklahoma . [ [http://www.spaceagecity.com/googie/basement/ spaceagecity.com/basement] retrieved 8 October 2007] The 200 ft (60.9 m)glass andsteel structure opened in1967 . An enclosedobservation deck gives a 360° view of the surrounding area and enables a self-guided visual tour of the ORU campus. A visitor center on the ground floor has agift shop along with showings of a 20-minutemultimedia presentation on the history of the university and a 36-minute, faith-oriented presentation about the life ofOral Roberts . The landscaped Ralph L. Reece Memorial Gardens surround the tower base.ymbolism
ORU is a charismatic Christian university. According to school
publicity the tower's form is laden with Christiansymbolism . [ORU website, [http://www.oru.edu/aboutoru/prayertower.php Prayer Tower] , retrieved 8 October 2007] The Prayer Tower is located at the center of campus to symbolizeprayer 's utmost importance. The disc and spindle design more or less takes on the look of a cross from any horizontalbearing . The tower's "upwardspiral ["sic "] " is intended to mirror one's relationship withGod . The latticework which surrounds the observation deck is reportedly built in part from standard whitePVC pipe (with the original specification markings still somewhat visible) [roadsideamerica.com " [http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D2914 Oral Roberts Prayer Tower] ", retrieved 8 October 2007] and is meant as a semi-literal representation of thecrown of thorns worn byJesus on the cross, with red coloring for theblood Christ shed in death. The tower's peak features aneternal flame representingbaptism of theHoly Spirit .A 24-hour-a-day group (the Abundant Life Prayer Group) prays with people via
telephone in a room on the observation deck. The tower is a popular local tourist attraction.References
External links
* [http://www.oru.edu/university/campus/prayer.html Prayer Tower]
* [http://www.oru.edu/ Oral Roberts University]
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