Memorial Bell Tower, NCSU (Raleigh)
At 115 feet tall, this memorial contains 1,400 tones of concrete and sits on a 700 ton concrete base. The Bell Tower does not actually contain bells, but rather speakers that are controlled from the nearby Holladay Hall.
On the cornerstone of the Bell Tower: DEDICATED BY / THE ALUMNI / TO THE GLORY / OF ALMIGHTY GOD
[Here the inscription is separated by the seal of the North Carolina State University (NCSU) which bears the original name of the University: North Carolina College of Agriculture and Engineering - NCSU's name from 1917 to 1964]
AND IN MEMORY / OF THOSE WHO SER- / VED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE WAR
City of Raleigh and North Carolina State University
November 11, 1949
35.786100 , -78.663500
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"Cherry Praises Military Record," The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), November 12, 1949
"Clock Tower and Chimes, War Memorial, N.C. State College, Raleigh, N.C.," in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill, (accessed May 14, 2013) Link
"Greetings from Raleigh," in Durwood Barbour Collection of North Carolina Postcards (P077), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, Wilson Library, UNC-Chapel Hill, (accessed December 14, 2012) Link
"Greetings from Raleigh," in North Carolina Postcard Collection (P052), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Link
"Memorial Bell Tower," North Carolina State University, (accessed June 30, 2011) Link
"Memorial Belltower, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina," Waymarking.com, (accessed February 12, 2012) Link
"Shrine Room, Memorial Plaque Will Be Dedicated Today," The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC), November 11, 1949
"Wake County: North Carolina State University: Memorial Tower: Scan 1," in North Carolina County Photographic Collection (P0001), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Link
"Wake County: North Carolina State University: Memorial Tower: Scan 2," in North Carolina County Photographic Collection (P0001), North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Link
Folder P0001/1472 in print box 26, in the North Carolina County Photographic Collection #P0001, North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Link
Medlin, Derek. "Bell Tower Project Takes Off, Students Connect to Masonic History to Push Completion of Original Design" The Technician (Raleigh, NC), April 12, 2009, technicianonline.com, (accessed February 3, 2019) Link
Memorial Bell Tower (folder 3), 2008-2009, North Carolina State University Archives Reference Collection, University Buildings, Sites, Landmarks Files, 1888-2009, North Carolina State University, Special Collections Research Center (UA 050.004)
Memorial Bell Tower, drawings, circa 1935-circa 1980, North Carolina State University Archives Reference Collection, University Buildings, Sites, Landmarks Files, 1888-2009, North Carolina State University, Special Collections Research Center (UA 050.004)
Memorial Bell Tower, folder one, 1918-1950, North Carolina State University Archives Reference Collection, University Buildings, Sites, Landmarks Files, 1888-2009, North Carolina State University, Special Collections Research Center (UA 050.004)
Memorial Bell Tower, folder two, 1951-2007, undated, North Carolina State University Archives Reference Collection, University Buildings, Sites, Landmarks Files, 1888-2009, North Carolina State University, Special Collections Research Center (UA 050.004)
Yes
Mt. Airy granite, concrete
NC State Memorial Committee
$200,000
This war memorial stands on North Carolina State University's campus. It is recognized as a major symbol of the University and is included in the University's seal. The memorial tower was built to honor NC State alumni killed in World War I.
There are no controversies. However there is an interesting fact. Officially, 33 NCSU alumni died in World War I, but the placque bears 34 names. G. L. Jeffers, Class of '13, was reported as killed in action, but this was a mistake. When the plaque was made, many years later, the list including Jeffers’ name was provided to the manufacturer. When the mistake was realized, the decision was made to simply alter the inscription of Jeffers’ name to make it unrecognizeable. Thus, it was changed to G. E. Jefferson, and serves as a symbol of unknown soldiers from NCSU and elsewhere.
The Memorial Bell Tower stands at the northeast corner of North Campus at the corner of Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road in Raleigh, NC.
The memorial belltower is surrounded by mature trees and other shrubs and plants.
When NCSU wins a major sporting event, among other special occasions, the tower is lit with red lights.
Made of granite and concrete, the monument exceeded $150,000 in cost.
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