On your right is the Beale Memorial Clock Tower-Bakersfield’s eyebrow-raising answer to the question, “Why not put a giant clock in the middle of the street?” Back in 1904, Truxtun Beale gave this tower to the city as a tribute to his mom, Mary Edwards Beale. Truxtun got the idea from Spain-apparently, being an ambassador comes with plenty of travel inspiration and a taste for dramatic tribute.
Originally, this tower sat smack dab in the middle of traffic, like a stubborn mule no one wanted to move. The city council tried to take it down in 1912, but the locals and Truxtun dug in their heels, so trolley tracks had to swerve around it. You think your morning commute is complicated?
Then, the 1952 earthquake hit-the big one. The original tower didn’t make it, but folks here salvaged its guts: the ironwork, the old bell, even the clock mechanism. Fast forward to 1964, and thanks to a group of determined Bakersfield residents, the tower you see now rose again-complete with all that old hardware, just relocated up Chester Avenue.
When you’re ready, head north-it’s just a one-minute walk to the Bakersfield Californian Building.
