You’re now standing in front of the Iowa State University Campanile, the most iconic tower on campus-after all, who wouldn’t want to say they went to a school with its very own castle for bells? Just take a moment to listen-maybe you hear the soft peal of carillon bells carried on the breeze. This beautiful tower, standing 110 feet tall on a humble 16 by 16 foot base, is more than just a landmark: it’s the heart and soul-or should I say, the ringing voice-of Iowa State University.
Let’s wind the clock back to the late 1800s. Imagine the Central Campus in 1897-a time without smartphones and WiFi, but with plenty of spirit. Edgar W. Stanton, a professor and member of the first graduating class, was deeply in love with his wife, Margaret MacDonald Stanton. She was the university’s first dean of women, a true pioneer who helped shape the community. Tragically, Margaret passed away in 1895, and Edgar wanted to create something beautiful in her memory-something that would resonate for generations. Working alongside university president William M. Beardshear, he chose this very spot, just north of what would become the Memorial Union, to build a lasting tribute.
Construction finished in 1897 for the grand price of $6,510.20-nowadays, that wouldn’t get you a fancy bike rack! But with those funds, the Campanile rose to its full height, and in 1899, Edgar added the heart of the structure: the first ten bells of what would become the famous Stanton Memorial Carillon. Each of these original bells carries a unique inscription, carefully chosen by Edgar to honor his beloved Margaret.
Over the years, time-and love-added more bells. When Edgar passed away in 1920, his estate funded 26 new bells to be added in his own memory. Later gifts brought the number to 50, each one a voice in this mighty choir. The heaviest bell weighs a thundering 5,737 pounds. When all the bells ring together, the carillon weighs nearly 30 tons. I guess you could say the Campanile’s got... “heavy metal” running in its veins!
Always a campus centerpiece, the Campanile’s bells have marked the quarter-hours with the classic “Westminster Quarters” melody, sending music drifting across the lawns and lecture halls. On quiet nights, students have even heard their echoes weaving through the trees.
But it hasn’t always been smooth ringing! In 1991, budget woes threatened to silence the bells for good after Professor Richard von Grabow’s retirement. Enter Ames’ own radio DJ, Kenn McCloud-a local hero with a dramatic flair. He barricaded himself inside the Campanile and declared he wouldn’t leave until the community pitched in $10,000 to hire a guest carillonneur. The “Bucks for Bells” campaign swept through town, students, alumni, and faculty rallied, and McCloud emerged victorious five days later. Now that’s what I call a sound investment!
Donations soared when ISU alumnus Thomas Sutherland, recently freed from captivity, told the world how much the bells meant to him during his years in Lebanon. His words inspired a surge of support-including a whopping $1 million anonymous donation-ensuring the bells would sing on for generations. The Campanile underwent major renovations in the early 1990s, including everything from bell upgrades to brand new air conditioning for the playing cabin. Talk about VIP treatment for a tower!
Tradition runs deep here. According to campus folklore, you’re not a true Iowa Stater until you’ve been kissed right beneath the Campanile at midnight. During Homecoming or VEISHEA, hundreds-even thousands-of students gather for a “Mass Campaniling.” It’s the only time you might get kissed and become a legend at the same time! So if you hear the bells ring out at noon or on a cool autumn night, remember you’re part of a chorus that stretches over a century-and if you haven’t kissed anyone under the Campanile yet, well, your true Iowa Stater status is just waiting for you to pucker up.
