Clock Tower (Rome, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rome Clock Tower
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off GA 101, Rome, Georgia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | John W. Noble, Noble Bros. |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001068 |
| Added to NRHP | February 8, 1980 |
The Clock Tower in Rome, Georgia is a very old and important landmark. It stands tall on Clock Tower Hill, which is also called Neely Hill. This hill is one of the famous Seven Hills of Rome. The Clock Tower is a symbol of the city's history and can be seen from many places downtown.
Contents
History of the Rome Clock Tower
Building a Water Tower
The Clock Tower was built in 1871. A family named Noble, led by James Noble, Jr., helped create it. Its first job was to hold a huge amount of water for the city. Imagine 250,000 gallons of water!
The tower was made with strong iron sheets, each 10 feet long. Red bricks were placed all around the iron frame. The water tank itself was 63 feet tall and 26 feet wide.
Adding the Clock and Bell
Just one year later, in 1872, a clock and a bell were added to the top of the tower. This new part was 41 feet tall. The clocks were made by a famous company called E. Howard Clock Company.
Each clock face is nine feet across, which is super big! The hour hand is three feet, six inches long. The minute hand is even longer at four feet, three inches. The bell inside the tower is made of real bronze. It is 40 inches wide and has the year 1872 carved into it.
With the clock and bell, the tower grew to be 104 feet tall. This made it easy to spot from almost anywhere in downtown Rome.
From Water to Landmark
By the 1890s, Rome had grown a lot. The tower could no longer hold enough water for everyone. So, it stopped being a water tower. For many years, the tower was not used and started to show signs of age.
The Clock Tower Today
Restoring a Historic Site
In 1986, a group called the Rome Jaycees decided to help. They raised over $80,000 to improve the area around the Clock Tower on Neely Hill. They added beautiful landscaping to make the spot look nice again.
A Museum for Everyone
Thanks to the Rome Jaycees, the Clock Tower became a museum in 1995. Now, you can go inside and explore! The old water tank area displays art by a local artist named Chuck Smultz.
You can also climb the 107 steps that spiral around the inside of the tower. These steps lead all the way to the top, where you can enjoy amazing views of Rome. The Clock Tower is a wonderful place to learn about history and see cool art!
