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.
The clock collection emerged during a period of great innovation in woodworking and mechanics in the early 20th century. In the 1920s, a major automobile manufacturer tried to purchase one of the clocks for a substantial sum, but the brothers refused to sell.
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.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
