Tour the Cook Carillon Tower December 5

The Cook Carillon Tower is a focal point of the Allendale Campus, standing at 100 feet to the top of its spire, and chiming every 15 minutes.

The Grand Valley community is invited to tour the massive structure, which was built and installed in 1994, on Tuesday, December 5, from 1:30-3 p.m.

Hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and University Communications, the tours will be facilitated by Julianne Vanden Wyngaard, university carillonneur. Light refreshments will be served.

Named for major donors and longtime Grand Valley supporters Peter and Pat Cook, who died in 2010 and 2008 respectively, the Cook Carillon Tower contains 48 bronze bells created in the Netherlands. The size and weight of each bell determines the individual tones. The bells range from 7.5 inches to more than 51 inches, and weigh from 14 to nearly 3,000 pounds. 

Vanden Wyngaard will also perform a holiday concert on the Beckering Family Carillon, located on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, on December 24 from 9:30-10:15 p.m. The concert will be free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Music and Dance Department at (616) 331-3484.