Bells installed atop Freedom Tower

A carillon of 25 bells weighing approximately 8 tons was hoisted into the sky more than 275 feet above Liberty University’s campus Thursday morning before coming to rest at the peak of Freedom Tower, now the tallest building in Lynchburg.

The centerpiece of the bell display is the university’s replica Liberty Bell, which was unveiled in 1976 in recognition of America’s bicentennial and the renaming of Lynchburg Baptist College to Liberty Baptist College (before it became Liberty University). It was previously housed in a pavilion near Elmer Towns Religion Hall. The Liberty Bell alone weighs about 3,000 pounds and is 30 inches in diameter.

As construction continues on the tower, the carillon will be protected from wind and rain by a glass panel enclosure and pyramidal glass roof.

The bells will be electronically controlled from a remote keyboard and can be programmed to play a number of melodies. Listen to examples of what the bells will sound like once they are in use.

Freedom Tower will be completed this fall and will house the Rawlings School of Divinity. The tower is 17 stories high with 409 steps from top to bottom. Learn more about the features of Freedom Tower.