Bily Clock Museum, Clock museum in Spillville, US
The Bily Clock Museum displays over 20 handcrafted wooden clocks created by brothers Frank and Joseph Bily from 1913 to 1958. The collection spans different sizes and mechanical designs showing the brothers' skill and imagination.
Frank and Joseph Bily, farmers and carpenters born in Spillville in the late 19th century, made clocks by hand from 1913 to 1958. They first planned to burn their creations after their deaths but later donated the collection to the city of Spillville. The building also hosted Czech composer Antonín Dvořák during the summer of 1893, when he completed his Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World".
The building housed Czech composer Antonín Dvořák in 1893 while he worked on his Symphony No. 9 in E minor. Visitors can see the space where one of the era's most celebrated composers created his masterwork.
The museum is located in a historic building in Spillville and welcomes visitors on most days throughout the year. The space allows visitors to get close to the clocks and observe the mechanical details up close.
The largest clock in the collection, The Apostles' Parade, stands about 10 feet tall and features moving figures of the twelve apostles that rotate through the mechanism. This mechanical sculpture took considerable effort to create and remains one of the most intricate pieces on display.
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