North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower

The North Carolina State University Memorial Belltower is a granite tower standing about 115 feet (35 meters) tall on the university campus. It features a four-faced clock section decorated with eight carved American eagles and sits on a substantial concrete foundation.

Construction began in 1921 with a major ceremony, but progress slowed during the Great Depression before completion in 1937. The delays during this economic period shaped the long timeline for the project.

The tower displays the names of 35 North Carolina State alumni who died during World War I, with one name representing those who could not be identified. Visitors walking around the base can read these inscriptions and understand how the university honors its fallen.

The tower is accessible daily to visitors and easy to reach from the main campus pathways. The interior is typically not open to the public, but the exterior and the area around the base offer good views and places to stop.

An annual student running event starts at another location on campus and ends at this tower, with participants eating donuts along the way. The money raised goes to children's hospitals.

Inception: November 11, 1949

Website: https://ncsu.edu/belltower

GPS coordinates: 35.78615,-78.66351

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:03