Beaumont Carillon Tower in East Lansing

Yesterday, on a cool crisp fall day, it was a pleasure to stroll through the Michigan State Campus and hear the carillon being played from Beaumont Tower. A gift of Alice and John Beaumont, the tower was completed in 1928. A carillon plays at least 2 octaves of bells by means of a keyboard. Beaumont Tower contains 49 bells that were totally renovated in 1996. Ray McLellan has been the resident carilloneur since 1997. The hill on which the tower stands is hallowed ground where the first instructional edifice (College Hall) was built on campus and the first one in the nation to be dedicated to the teaching of scientific agriculture. The Sower, above the main door, symbolizes the seeds of knowledge.