Burton Memorial Tower facts for kids
The Burton Memorial Tower is a tall clock tower at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It was built in 1936 to honor University President Marion Leroy Burton. Inside the tower is a huge musical instrument called a carillon. This carillon has 53 bells and weighs a total of 43 tons. It is one of the heaviest carillons in the world!
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History of the Tower
The Burton Memorial Tower was built between 1935 and 1936. It stands 192 feet (about 58 meters) tall. The tower is located on the University of Michigan campus. It holds classrooms for the university's music school. It also has offices for music studies.
The tower's design mixes two cool styles: Art Deco and art moderne. It was built with strong reinforced concrete and covered with limestone. The famous architect Albert Kahn designed it. He also designed other important buildings at the University of Michigan, like Angell Hall.
At the very top of the tower is the "Charles Baird Carillon." This amazing instrument was a gift from Charles A. Baird. He was a lawyer and the first athletic director at the University of Michigan. Mr. Baird had the bells made in England and then gave them to the university. The carillon plays music every 15 minutes. It plays a special tune called the "Westminster Quarters."
Did you know the University of Michigan has two of the world's largest carillons? The other one is at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower on the North Campus. They are only about two miles apart!
In 2017, the tower was lit up in the university's colors, maize and blue. This was to celebrate the university's 200th birthday. The carillon and the tower's spire can be lit in many different colors today.
Tower Facts
About the Tower Building
- Building height: 212 feet (about 64 meters)
- Designer: Albert Kahn
- Cost to build (in 1936): $243,664.61
- Construction dates: 1935 to 1936
- Materials used: Strong reinforced concrete covered with limestone
- Dedicated on: December 4, 1936
- Dedicated to: U-M President Marion Leroy Burton
About the Charles Baird Carillon
- Location: At the top of the Burton Memorial Tower
- World ranking: It is tied for the fourth heaviest carillon in the world!
- Number of bells: 53 bells
- Total weight: 43 tons
- Largest bell: Weighs 12 tons; it rings every hour
- Smallest bell: Weighs only 16.5 pounds
- Height of bells: The bells hang 120 feet (about 36 meters) above the campus
- How it works: The bells stay still, but their clappers (the parts that hit the bells) move to make music.
- Bells made by: John Taylor Bellfoundry in Loughborough, England
- Current carillonist: Tiffany Ng (a carillonist is someone who plays the carillon)
Images for kids
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The Burton Memorial Tower
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Looking up into a bell of the Charles Baird Carillon
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The clapper of one of the largest bells in the Charles Baird Carillon
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View of Burton Memorial Tower from N. University Avenue
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The bicentennial lights make the belfry glow
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