Here are listed the 32 great bells in North America
which are found outside of carillons,
in descending order by weight.
The corresponding list of great bells in carillons
has intercalated links to reference the bells listed here.
Institution name and address
Contact information (if available)
LL: Latitude and Longitude for GPS
Site locator map links (Some of the above will be omitted if there is a Link [see below] to a site data page
about other bells at this place.)
"World Peace Bell", A, 33385 kg, Paccard and affiliates, 1998
Millennium Monument
Fourth and York Streets
Tel. (859)261-2526
LL: N 39.09231, W 84.49577 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
The world's largest swinging bell, and the largest Western bell outside of Russia,
from its casting until 2006; it is a "maiden bell" (un-tuned).
The "planned weight" announced before casting (30 metric tons, or about 66,000 lbs)
was deliberately misleading; the actual planned weight was 33 metric tons.
As weighed at the foundry after casting, the bell is 33385 kg, or slightly over 73,000 lbs.
Total swinging weight including clapper and yoke is about 104,000 lbs.
Diameter 378 cm.
Links:
> World Peace Symposium 2000
> Tall Stacks 1999
- on the barge at the riverside (zoomable photo)
> Tri-State Travelogue
- two good clickable photos
> 3 photos of the bell and barge arriving
at Newport. Notice the hinged smokestacks on the riverboat!
> The Verdin Company, designers of the bell
> photo of the bell in the
partly-completed tower, with a good news article and sidebar on a linked page
> photo of the bell swinging
> Wikipedia article
about this bell, with a small photo clickable for a large version
> two photos at the foundry, with
a linked news article.
> photo
with brief description
> Original tower design
(never built) from Emporis Buildings;
also see our Emporis Advice.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Paccard bellfoundry.
"The Founder's Bell", D (145 Hz), 310-1-28[?], Gillett & Johnston, 1926
PNB-First Union Bank Building (rooftop cupola)
One South Broad Street, at Penn Square
LL: N 39.95117, W 75.16349 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Made for John Wanamaker's Department Store, to honor Rodman Wanamaker's father
and to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the USA (one short ton per decade).
Initially hung dead on the roof of the original store building.
Moved to its present location (then Wanamaker's new men's store,
originally known as the Lincoln-Liberty building) in the 1930s,
and rehung for swinging in a much taller frame.
It no longer swings, but does strike the hour from 8am to 4pm daily.
This was the Philadelphia National Bank Building for a time,
and still bears the PNB initials.
Diameter 290 cm.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Byzantine Slovak)
10350 Woodbine Avenue (Regional Road 8), near Vine Cliff Boulevard
Markham, ON L6C 1H9
Tel. (905)887-9037
LL: N 43.89361, W 79.37242 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Largest of a set of three swinging bells
(see #19 and #26 below);
also reported as 19000 kg (~41800 lbs),
which may be gross weight with clapper and yoke.
Diameter 300 cm.
Links:
> large front photo
> Where these three bells lie in the total sequence of output of the
Paccard bellfoundry.
temple bell, E, 27500 lbs, Petit & Edelbrock, 1988
Odiyan Buddhist Retreat Center
Tin Barn Road (between Cazadero and Stewarts Point)
Sonoma County, California
LL: N 38.62403, W 123.31583 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Although used as a temple bell, this is actually a Western style bell.
The foundry supplied a relatively light-weight internal clapper,
but an external striker of oriental type may have been fitted later.
(See movie link below.)
Diameter 262 cm.
The Center is not open to the public.
Links:
> A photo tour page
describes the main buildings of the Center, but does not mention the bell,
which is located along the Stupa Road near the Mandala Garden.
> The Nyingma Center in Berkeley, CA, is in some
sense the sponsoring organization for the Retreat Center.
> A CNN news article from 1996
describes the Center (as it was then).
It includes a short and small QuickTime movie clip
which opens with a very brief glimpse (and sound) of a bell being rung;
but since it appears to be an oriental style bell, it may not actually be this one.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Petit & Edelbrock bellfoundry.
St.Francis de Sales Catholic Church
Madison Road at Woodburn Avenue (church address: 2900 Woodburn Avenue)
Mail: 1600 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Tel. (513)961-1945
LL: N 39.12973, W 84.47663 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
The largest bell ever cast in the USA; originally it swung.
It has been variously reported as 16.5, 17.5 or 18.5 tons.
In west tower.
Long reputed to have note E-flat, this bell was reinspected in Aug.2007 and found
to have note F, which implies a very heavy profile.
Links:
> See the site data page on the chime in the
east tower for more information about this bell and its companions,
a site locator map, and links to other Webpages.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Whitechapel bellfoundry.
E?, ~10 1/2 tonnes, Blake Bell Company, Boston, pre-1891
City Hall
Broadway and Park Row
LL: N 40.71277, W 74.00597 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
Alarm bell; apparently destroyed by fire.
The tower was rebuilt in 1917 after two major fires,
and the 1500 lb. clock bell which now hangs there
was originally supplied to the NYC Fire Department Headquarters in 1872
by Meneely & Kimberly (Troy, NY).
"Solomon Juneau", (pitch unknown), 10 or 11 tons, G.Campbell & Sons (Milwaukee), 1896
City Hall
200 East Wells Street
LL: N 43.04143, W 87.90945 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Hour bell, originally struck by a manual drop-hammer (not from the clock);
the bell-ringer and his family lived in an apartment in the tower
at the level of the building's attic.
The second-largest bell ever cast in the USA,
by a regional bellfoundry which made only one chime (and that for a circus wagon).
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
University of Notre Dame du Lac
Originally swung; now struck by electric hammer.
Links:
> From the site data page for the traditional carillon
by the same maker in the same tower, you can find additional links
for the University and the Basilica, as well as site locator maps.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Bollée bellfoundry.
"The American Freedom Bell", F#, ~7 tons, Eijsbouts, 1999?
between the Hezekiah Alexander Homesite and
The Charlotte Museum of History
3500 Shamrock Drive
Charlotte, NC 28215
Tel. (704)568-1774
LL: N 35.23324, W 80.76650 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Hung dead in an open rotunda at ground level, with at least one outside hammer;
rung for the first time at midnight of Jan.1,2000.
Museum open Tue-Sat 10-5 (admission charged), Sun 1-5 (free)
Links:
> The museum photo
of this bell.
> Photo during installation
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Eijsbouts bellfoundry.
"Columbian Liberty and Peace Bell", G?, 13000 lbs, Meneely (Troy), 1893
Columbian Exposition
Hung dead and low to the ground, the bell disappeared after the Exposition.
"Standing six feet tall and weighing more
than six tons, the bell was cast in the likeness of the Liberty Bell at the special request
of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
People all over the world were invited to send contributions for the metal from which the bell
would be cast as a patriotic gesture to promote peace.
Historic objects such as keys to the Jefferson Davis house,
and a surveyor's chain used by George Washington were added to the hundreds of silver spoons and
thimbles donated.
Chester Meneely stated, “It came out all right although we were plenty
skeptical when all those patriotic old relics started melting and became just so much lead,
copper, silver and gold...to dull the tone.” "
(The Collector's Book of Bells by L. Springer.)
Links:
> About
the bell
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Meneely (Troy) bellfoundry.
Independence Hall
Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets
LL: N 39.94880, W 75.15005 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Also called the "Centennial Liberty Bell"
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas and New Year's Day
Links:
> A stereo
photo of the bell, with brief description
> The Liberty Bell Museum
includes a list of where all the full-size replicas of the Liberty Bell
are located.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Meneely (Troy) bellfoundry.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Byzantine Slovak)
Middle of a set of three swinging bells
(see #3 above and #26 below);
also reported as 10000 kg (~22000 lbs),
which is probably gross weight with clapper and yoke.
Originally reported with note "G"; reinspected as "F".
Église Saint-Zéphirin (Catholic Church)
Rue Saint-Joseph at Rue Commerciale
Mail: 308, rue St-Joseph
La Tuque G9X 1L1
T: (819)523-3166
LL: N 47.4412, W 72.7847 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
The only North American great bell by Taylor that is not in a carillon
Links:
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Taylor bellfoundry.
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
3400 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
Tel. (704)391-6600, Fax (704)391-5800
LL: N 35.28016, W 80.85600 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Bass bell of a peal of 5 (G,C,F,G,A)
Addition of 43 bells (with electric action) is planned.
Links:
> The church Website has a photo gallery
about the ceremony of blessing the bells in April 2006, just before their installation.
(The freestanding bell tower which is visible in one photo is associated with the older
building across the street.)
The "west elevation" photo gallery has more recent pictures of the tower
of the present main building, with some of the bells clearly visible.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Paccard bellfoundry.
Shove Chapel The Colorado College 1000 North Nevada Avenue (near Cache la Poudre Street)
LL: N 38.84797, W 104.82162 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
The hour bell (at the diminished octave) of a 5-bell set tuned for Cambridge (Westminster) quarters.
The chapel and bells were the gift of trustee Eugene P. Shove (rhymes with grove),
as a memorial to seven generations of his ancestors, all clergymen in England or America.
Original G&J clock and striking mechanism disused; independent electric action by
Schulmerich strikes quarters and hour but does not operate the single original clock dial
on the west face of the tower.
NOTE: Some descriptions of these bells give a weight of 11200 lbs for the hour bell;
that is exactly 5 imperial tons (100 cwt), which must be an estimated weight (before tuning).
The actual weight as shipped was recorded by G&J as 10759 lbs.
Links:
> The college Website includes the following:
An illustrated
tour page
about the chapel mentions the bells.
(The photo view is from the southwest.)
Another
page
about the chapel has a different photo (view from the southeast) and description.
A finding
aid for archived papers of the chapel's architect indicates that G&J had proposed
a 23-bell carillon [still possible with the available space in the belfry]
and a clock with ting-tang quarters.
> A newspaper article
gives an extensive history and description of this clock chime.
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Gillett & Johnston bellfoundry.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration (Byzantine Slovak)
Smallest of a set of three swinging bells
(see #3 and ##19 above);
also reported as 6000 kg (~13200 lbs),
which maybe gross weight with clapper and yoke.
Basilique-Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile
(Cathedral Basilica of St.Cecilia)
rue l'Église at Rue de la Fabrique
Mail: 31, rue Fabrique
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
LL: N 45.25502, W 74.13553 Site locator map
or
MapQuest;
also see our own Map Use Hints.
Swung by motor
Uncertain which of the twin towers contains this bell
Links:
> Where this bell lies in the total sequence of output of the
Whitechapel bellfoundry.
