Mueller Tower

The Mueller Tower is a historic 84-foot (26 m) carillon tower on the campus of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] It was built in 1949, and it is named for alumnus Ralph S. Mueller.[1]

Mueller Tower
The Mueller Tower in 2015
General information
Town or cityLincoln, Nebraska
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°49′12.5″N 96°42′09.3″W
Completed1949
OwnerUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
Height84 feet
Design and construction
ArchitectGeorge Kuska Jr.

History

The 84-foot (26 m) tower was built with limestone from Indiana thanks to a $90,000 donation (equivalent to $967,000 in 2019) from alumnus Ralph S. Mueller, the founder and president of the Cleveland, Ohio-based Mueller Electric Company.[1][2] It was designed by George Kuska Jr. when he was still a student at the university,[1] and he later became a professional architect in central California.[3] The construction of the tower was completed in 1949.[4][5]

Its dedication was attended by 2,000 individuals on November 4, 1949.[6] They included Chancellor R. G. Gustavson and President Harold S. Wilson as well as Professor Lynus Burr Smith, who was the head of the department of Architecture, and Arthur Lynds Bigelow, "one of the world's greatest carilloneurs."[1] Other attendees included Deane Waldo Malott, then the president of the University of Kansas, George Kuska Jr., the architect, as well as Mr Mueller and members of his family.[6]

The bell tower was cordoned off in 2006 as the limestone began collapsing, and the university lacked funding to restore it.[7] By then, it had become "one of the most recognizable structures on campus," and university officials vowed to restore it shortly.[7]

The tower does not include a traditional array of bells.[8] Instead the tower has eight speakers which broadcast recordings or live music played.[5] Mueller, whose career was in electronics, liked the electronic broadcast system idea.[5] The music was initially played on a keyboard, but it was later replaced by tape recordings.[9] As late as 1985, a student played the keyboard prior to football games in the octagonal room inside the tower.[8] For the pre-recorded music, an Embassy Digital Autobell Carillon machine is now used.[5] The tower has also been used to commemorate special occasions, like the 16th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic on December 4, 1996, three days after World AIDS Day.[10] As of 2015, the system was broadcasting music selected randomly, at the hour and at 23 minutes past the hour.[5]

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References
  1. "Tradition-Inspiring Symbol Becomes New Landmark on N. U. Campus". The Lincoln Star. October 30, 1949. p. 35. Retrieved May 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Ralph Mueller: Donor". UNL Historic Buildings. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  3. "George Kuska". The Californian. Salinas, California. March 27, 2003. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Mueller Tower". UNL Historic Buildings. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  5. Bell, Madison (April 9, 2015). "Behind the Scenes: Mueller Tower". Nebraska Today. University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  6. "2,000 See N. U.'s Mueller Tower Dedicated". The Lincoln Star. November 5, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Lee, Melissa (June 6, 2006). "Repairs needed, but bell is not tolling any time soon for tower". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. 1B, 3B. Retrieved May 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Boellstorff, Leslie (October 6, 1985). "Corkill puts life into Mueller carillon tower's music". The Lincoln Star. p. 23. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Roth, Mary Kay (September 15, 1996). "For Whom Do They Toll? Towering chimes and bells have the whole city ringing". Lincoln Journal Star. pp. 1J, 3J. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Bells to toll for AIDS". Lincoln Journal Star. December 3, 1996. p. 1. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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