Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower

Building Description

The Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower, more commonly known as “The Bell Tower,” towers 172 feet over the campus of North Carolina. There are 14 bells that are mechanically operated that ring every fifteen minutes. Occasionally, it will play songs such as “Hark the Sound” or “Carolina Victory.” The bells themselves are inscribed with the donors’ names, those being John Motley Morehead and Rufus Lenoir Patterson. Today, it sits next to Kenan Stadium, and is easily see-able from miles away in some parts of Chapel Hill.

History

Funding for the Bell Tower was made possible by generous donations from John Motley Morehead (Class of 1891) and Rufus Lenoir Patterson II. It was dedicated to the University on Thanksgiving Day in 1931. Originally, the Bell Tower had 12 bells that were manually operated; of course today they are electronically programmed to play every 15 minutes. Some say one of its “jobs” is to notify Carolina students when it’s time to wake up, and when it’s time to go to bed. The general public is not allowed to climb the tower, though every May, just before graduation, seniors are allowed to climb to the top to get a view of campus and Chapel Hill.