University of Arizona Memorial Student Union Bell Tower - Tucson, Arizona
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 32° 13.929 W 110° 57.141
12S E 504489 N 3566169
Bell tower at the student union on the campus of the University of Arizona. The tower has one of two original bells salvaged from the U.S.S. Arizona.
Waymark Code: WMHJGA
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 07/16/2013
Views: 11
The student union along with this tower were completed in 2002. The tower has a rough stone exterior and has an angular shape. Within the bell tower is one of two original bells from the U.S.S. Arizona. From plaque:
The bell in this clock tower is one of the two original ship's bells salvaged from the battleship U.S.S. ARIZONA following the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. In 1944, Wilber L. "Bill" Bowers, UA Class of 1927, discovered the bell about to be melted down at the Puget Sound Naval Yard in Bremerton, Washington. Bowers was instrumental in saving the bell from destruction and acquiring the bell for the University of Arizona.
On November 17, 1951 the bell was rung for the first time in the clock tower of the then-new Memorial Student Union. The bell was rung on special occasions for the next 50 years until the clock tower and Student Union were razed to make way for the present day facility completed in 2002.
The bell was installed in this clock tower on August 16, 2002. Bowers at the age of 99, was given the honor of ringing the bell for the first time in its new belfry on September 11, 2002. This bell is rung seven times on the third Wednesday of every month at 12:07 p.m. in honor of the brave Marines and Sailors who gave their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and to honor the outstanding achievements of the University of Arizona and its community.