| McGraw Tower | |
|---|---|
 McGraw Tower at Cornell University | |
  Location within New York | |
| General information | |
| Type | Clock tower |
| Location | Ithaca, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 42.44757°N 76.48505°W |
| Completed | 1891 |
| Height | 173 feet (53 m) |
McGraw Tower is a clock tower located on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The tower was known as Library Tower when it was first built but was renamed in 1961 in honor of either John McGraw, one of Cornell's original donors, or his daughter Jennie McGraw, the philanthropist in whose honor the tower and its adjacent library were originally commissioned by Henry W. Sage.[1][2][3][4][5]
McGraw Tower has housed the Cornell Chimes, which Jennie McGraw donated to the university in 1868, since its construction finished in 1891. The bells were moved from McGraw Hall, a separate building, which had not been designed to support the weight of the bells.[1] The Cornell Chimes were the first chimes housed and rung on an American college campus.[3] The chimes play music three times each day during the school year.[1] They also ring every fifteen minutes between 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 P.M.
History[edit]
McGraw Tower was designed as part of Uris Library by William Henry Miller, and construction finished in 1891.[1][2] The construction of the library and tower, then called the University Library, was funded by Henry W. Sage to be built in the memory of Jennie McGraw.[3] Sage believed McGraw had intended to donate her estate to the construction of a library on Cornell's campus upon her death; however, this claim was contested by her husband, Cornell professor and librarian Willard Fiske.[3] The university took Sage's view, leading to years of litigation, but eventually, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Fiske.[3]
Pranks[edit]
On October 8, 1997, passersby noticed a pumpkin on top of the tower's spire.[6] Because of the danger involved in retrieving it, administrators decided to leave it until it rotted and fell off. However, the pumpkin rapidly dried out in the cold air and remained on the tower until it was removed with a crane on March 13, 1998 (it was planned that Provost Don M. Randel would remove it, but in a practice run the crane basket was blown by a gust of wind and knocked the pumpkin off).[7] Who placed the pumpkin atop the tower, why they did so, and how remain unknown.[8] Widely considered the greatest prank in the university's history, the pumpkin prompted national media coverage, the creation of a live webcam, its own daily feature in one of the school papers, and at least two scientific inquiries into whether the object on top of the tower was, in fact, a pumpkin.[6][8] (Morphological, chemical, and DNA analysis confirmed that it was.)[8][9] It also inspired a unique version of the Cornell alma mater.[10] It was removed on March 13, 1998.[9]
In April 2005, a disco ball was attached to the top of the tower. A crane was hired to remove the offending orb, costing the university about $20,000.[11]
On December 1, 2019, a large Santa Claus hat was discovered on top of the tower.[12]
Later history[edit]
On April 11, 2022, the tower resumed allowing public attendance of its chimes concerts after a near two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]
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Cornell University
Ithaca, New York14853(607) 254-4636
Ithaca: Something for Everyone
General Campus Tours
GUIDED WALKING TOURS
Guided walking tours of campus take place throughout the year. This tour will give you an introduction to Cornell's history, its seven undergraduate colleges and schools, student life, athletics, and some legend and tradition. The tours are wheelchair accessible, are mostly outdoors, and last about one hour. We conduct tours rain or shine. General tours depart from Day Hall unless noted otherwise.
FRESHMAN EXPERIENCE TOURS
This hour-long tour is designed for prospective students who have already taken the regular campus walking tour. Beginning at Day Hall and ending on North Campus, this tour will show you what you can expect during your first year at Cornell: residence halls, the Carol Tatkon Center for first-year students, dining halls, and the living-learning experience. This tour does not include academics or information about the colleges and schools.
GROUP TOURS OF 10 OR MORE
We are happy to discuss and help you navigate various visit options on the Cornell campus. Groups of 10 or more people must make special arrangements with our office. Special tours, including the Historical Tour, group and private tours, are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and there is a $40 fee for each tour guide needed. Please contact us at least two weeks before your planned visit at 607-254-INFO (4636). We look forward to helping you explore Cornell University.
Information Sessions
We offer two types of information sessions: general university information sessions about Cornell, student life, and our overall admissions requirements; and college-specific sessions offered by each individual undergraduate college or school. These one-hour presentations are offered during select times throughout the year and reservations are requested.
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