McFarland Carillon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sarah "Sally" McFarland Carillon
Alternative names	McFarland Memorial Bell Tower
General information
Type	Bell tower housing a carillon
Location	South Quad
Town or city	Urbana, Illinois
Country	United States
Coordinates	40°06′10″N 88°13′38″W
Construction started	July 2008
Completed	October 2008
Inaugurated	October 22, 2010
Cost	$3,500,000 (Bells: $500,000; Tower: $3,000,000)
Owner	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Height	185 feet (56 m)
Design and construction
Architect	Fred Guyton
Architecture firm	Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets, Inc.
Other designers	Petit & Fritsen (bellfounding)

The McFarland Carillon, sometimes referred to as the McFarland Bell Tower or McFarland Memorial Bell Tower is a 185-foot bell tower located on the South Quad of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The tower was approved by the University's trustees in 2005 and built in 2008-2009. It was designed by Fred Guyton of Peckham, Guyton, Albers & Viets. The carillon has 48 bells, which can be controlled by a computer with 500 pre-programmed songs, or can be played directly with a keyboard.

History and description

Close-up of the bells, September 20, 2013

The carillon project began as an attempt to upgrade and renovate the Altgeld Chimes of Altgeld Hall Tower, until it became clear that this would not be possible. A free-standing campanile had been considered as a possibility for the campus since 1913. The funding for the project came from Harold Richard "Dick" McFarland, a graduate from the university's College of Agriculture in 1952. After the death of his wife Sarah "Sally" McFarland due to ovarian cancer, McFarland donated $1.5 million for the construction of the tower, which would be named in her honor.

The carillon's 48 bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen bell foundry and were transported to the United States via boat. The total cost of the bells was estimated at $550,000.

Local residents and students have attempted to climb the tower, and at least one has fallen while attempting the climb.

"Eye of Sauron" prank

In the early hours of Sunday, September 21, 2008, students hung a replica of the "Eye of Sauron" in the top half of the tower. The eye is from J. R. R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings and is a symbol of the principal antagonist. The University of Illinois Police did not identify the pranksters. The eye was removed from the tower the next morning.