Hardy Memorial Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hardy Memorial Tower
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Hardy Memorial Tower in February 2016
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5300 Campanile Dr., San Diego, California |
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| Architect | Howard Spencer Hazen |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
| Part of | San Diego State College (ID97000924) |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1997 |
The Hardy Memorial Tower is a famous building at San Diego State University (SDSU). It was built in 1931 as part of a special government project. This tall tower is 11 stories high, which is about 119 feet (36 meters). Inside, it holds a musical instrument called the Fletcher Symphonic Carillon. This carillon has 204 bells! The Hardy Memorial Tower was once the university's main library. It is a very old and important part of the SDSU campus.
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Who is the Tower Named After?
Dr. Edward Hardy
The Hardy Memorial Tower is named after Dr. Edward Hardy (1868–1958). He was the president of the school that came before SDSU. It was called the State Normal School. Dr. Hardy was president from 1910 to 1935. During his time, the college moved to its current location. Its name also changed to San Diego State College.
Dr. Hardy helped with education in San Diego for many years. After he retired in 1936, he became the director of the San Diego Museum. A street and an elementary school near SDSU are also named after him. In 1976, the university officially named the tower after him. This was to thank him for all his hard work.
The Bells and Chimes
The tower also has a special musical instrument called the Fletcher Symphonic Carillon. It is sometimes called the Fletcher Chimes. This carillon was given to SDSU in 1946. Senator and Mrs. Ed Fletcher gave it as a gift. It was to celebrate the university's 50th birthday. It also honors students who were lost in wars. A Carillon is like a giant set of bells played with a keyboard.
Why the Tower is Important
The Hardy Memorial Tower is a well-known symbol of San Diego State University. It is important to the whole San Diego community.
In 2004, two old murals were found inside the tower. People thought these paintings were lost forever! SDSU won an award in 2008 for helping to save this artwork.
- NRA Packages, is one of the murals. It was painted in 1936 by Genevieve Burgeson Bredo. This mural was found behind some ceiling tiles. It shows three men unloading packages from a van. These packages were part of a government program called the National Recovery Act (NRA). This mural has been fixed up. You can now see it in the Malcolm A. Love Library.
- A second, larger mural is called San Diego Industry. George Sorenson painted this one. It is still inside the Hardy Memorial Tower. This mural shows how tuna was fished and canned. It also shows the many different people who worked in that industry. The library hopes to move and restore this mural in the future.
Where is the Tower?
The Hardy Memorial Tower stands in the northwest corner of the Hepner Hall Quad. This area has classrooms and lecture halls. It also holds the offices for the College of Health and Human Services.
