Beale Memorial Clock Tower, Clock tower at Kern County Museum in Bakersfield, California

Beale Memorial Clock Tower is a square tower of light tan brick with pale stone trim, topped by a small gabled cap. Two round clock faces with Roman numerals sit on adjacent sides above open arched balconies with pale green railings. Decorative quatrefoil medallions ornament the walls, and large glazed arches open near the stepped stone base.

Truxtun Beale gave the tower to Bakersfield in memory of his mother, Mary Edwards Beale; architect Clinton Day designed it and it was dedicated on April 4, 1904, standing in the middle of 17th Street and Chester Avenue. Damaged in the 1952 Kern County earthquake, it was demolished, with only the clock works, bell, iron spiral stairwell, balcony railings and grillwork saved. A replica incorporating that metalwork was dedicated on December 13, 1964 in front of the Kern County Museum, about 1.25 miles north of the original site.

The tower is a 1964 replica; its clock works, bell, iron spiral stairwell, balcony railings and iron grillwork were salvaged from the 1904 original after the 1952 Kern County earthquake. Truxtun Beale had the first tower designed by architect Clinton Day, inspired by a clock tower he saw as U.S. ambassador to Spain.

The tower is located on the museum grounds at 3801 Chester Avenue and is easy for visitors to find while exploring the property. You can see it while walking through the museum area during regular hours.

In 1912, city planners and businesses wanted to demolish the tower to expand a trolley line, but local residents protested against it successfully. The community's action saved the structure from disappearing.