05/29/2026
8 facts about Bok Tower you might not know:
1. The tower has 60 bells, and they were cast in England.
• The Singing Tower’s carillon includes 60 bells, all cast by the John Taylor Bell Foundry in Loughborough, England.
2. It was dedicated by President Calvin Coolidge in 1929.
• Bok Tower Gardens officially opened on February 1, 1929, with President Calvin Coolidge taking part in the dedication ceremony.
3. Bok Tower sits on one of the highest points in peninsular Florida.
• That’s not exactly saying “mountain life,” because Florida is still Florida, but Bok Tower sits on Iron Mountain, one of the highest points in the peninsula.
4. The tower is 205 feet tall.
• The Singing Tower rises 205 feet above the gardens, which makes it one of Central Florida’s most recognizable landmarks.
5. Bok Tower Gardens has welcomed more than 23 million visitors since 1929.
• That is a lot of people quietly pretending they are “just going for a walk” while absolutely taking 47 photos.
6. The tower was inspired partly by European Gothic towers.
• The Singing Tower’s design was inspired in part by St. Rombald’s Tower in Mechelen, Belgium, adapted for Florida’s warmer, sunnier setting.
7. There is a major carillon library inside the tower.
• The Anton Brees Carillon Library is located on the fifth level of the Singing Tower and is considered one of the largest collections of carillon-related materials in the world.
8. Bok Tower is more than just the tower.
• The property includes gardens, trails, the 20-room El Retiro Estate, and the famous Singing Tower carillon.
