Altgeld Chimes

The Altgeld Hall Tower holds fifteen bells with a combined weight of about 3400 kilograms, with the largest bell measuring roughly 1.5 meters across. The bells hang in the upper part of the tower and are played from a wooden keyboard positioned seven stories above ground.

The chimes were installed in 1920 as a gift from graduating classes between 1914 and 1921, coinciding with the completion of Altgeld Hall's construction. The installation marked the beginning of daily musical performances that have continued for more than a century on the university campus.

The Altgeld Ringers, a student group, perform daily concerts during class sessions and at special events throughout the academic year.

The bells ring daily on weekdays between 12:50 and 1:00 PM and can be heard clearly from many spots across the campus. Visitors should plan to be near Altgeld Hall during these times to experience the performance best.

The wooden keyboard used to play the bells sits very high in the tower, and musicians must navigate multiple floors to reach their playing position. This elevated location and the manual nature of operating the chimes make each performance a behind-the-scenes effort that most visitors never see.