Denny Chimes, Art Deco bell tower at University of Alabama, United States.
Denny Chimes is a 115-foot (35-meter) bell tower featuring a limestone base, red brick shaft, and stepped pyramidal roof standing on the south side of the Quad. Inside, a carillon system holds 25 cast bronze bells that ring regularly throughout the day and perform musical pieces during university celebrations.
The tower originated in 1919 as a proposal to honor World War I, but construction did not begin until 1929 when students successfully raised the necessary funds. It has since become a defining landmark of the campus, woven into the university's everyday traditions.
Since 1948, football team captains have pressed their hands and footprints into cement slabs around the tower's base during the annual A-Day ceremony, when captains from the previous season are honored. The surrounding Walk of Fame records these impressions, and the names inscribed there include those of the honored captains.
The tower stands on the south side of The Quad, reachable on foot from the campus core. The Walk of Fame slabs lie at its base, where football captains have pressed hand and footprints since 1948. The Westminster chimes sound every 15 minutes and strike the hour, so time a visit to hear them.
The largest of the 25 bells measures about 11 feet (3 m) in circumference and 3 feet (1 m) in height. The carillon was converted to an electronic system by 1945 and modernized in 1966; an automatic player inside the base handles roll music, while a keyboard console is reserved for special occasions.
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