Web World Wonders

Directly below the bells, inside the bottom of the soundproof bell chamber is a playing room, housing the clavier or keyboard. The carillonneurs use this as a practice keyboard. There are 211 stairs going from the Founder's Room to the bell chamber.

Who designed the Tower?

Bok commissioned fellow Philadelphian architect Milton B. Medary to design and build the majestic carillon tower. Medary drew his main inspiration from the Gothic towers and churches of Europe, but met his challenge of adapting his design to the characteristics of the Florida landscape.

Lee Laurie, a noted stone sculptor from New York, was responsible for designing the extensive marble sculpture that adorns the Tower. Although Medary's overall design is Traditional Gothic in its conception, he, as was Laurie, were men of the times. Thus some viewers see suggestions of Art Deco in the Tower, especially in its sculptural decoration.

Bok, Medary and Laurie made it a goal to create perfect unity and symbolism in the design of the Tower. Since Bok Tower Gardens is a bird and plant sanctuary, the scheme for the sculptures and grille work (faience) is mostly birds and plants with a few other forms of wildlife depicted. Besides various flowers and trees, you can find cranes, herons, eagles, seahorses, jellyfish, fin fish, pelicans, flamingos, geese, swans, fox, storks, tortoise, hare, baboons, young men, Adam and Eve, and the serpent.

The colorful tiles found only in the top third of the Tower depict the perfect balance in nature, species and gender.

The brass entranceway and the wrought iron gates on the north side of the Tower were the masterpiece of Samuel Yellin, America's premier metalworker. The great entranceway depicts the Book of Genesis, starting with the creation of light and ending with Adam and Eve being ousted from the Garden of Eden. The iron gates leading to the Tower were hand-wrought, and showcase the head of a dog with various expressions and wings for flight.

The sundial on the south side of the Tower was set in place on October 26, 1928. The gnomon, which indicates sun time by casting a shadow on the dial face is made with a bronze rod supported by a bronze snake - the ancient symbol of time. The hours are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac. A correction table located at the base of the sundial shows visitors how to convert the sun's time to Eastern Standard Time.

Carved in the middle of the sundial are the words of dedication pronounced by President Calvin Coolidge on February 1, 1929: "for visitation by the American people." This date was just two years after construction was begun in 1927. The Tower and carillon were complete by late 1928.

Edward Bok's Singing Tower was sited at the highest elevation south of the pools, so the water reflects its image.

THE SANCTUARY

In 1921, Edward Bok was spending the winter months in a residential community located adjacent to the highest hill of Florida's central ridge, a hill 298 feet above sea level. He enjoyed taking evening walks to the top of "Iron Mountain," among the virgin pines and sandhill scrub, to enjoy Florida's dramatic sunsets. The idea came to him to preserve this hilltop and create a bird sanctuary-a place of beauty, serenity and peace.

Integral to Bok's idea was the availability of a famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., who was involved in the continued planning and development of the Mountain Lake community. Having made arrangements to buy land on the hilltop, Bok commissioned Olmsted to change this arid sandhill into "a spot of beauty second to none in the country." The first year was spent digging trenches and laying water pipes for irrigation, after which rich black soil was brought by the thousands of loads.

With the requisite conditions for a subtropical garden in place, planting of bushes and trees was begun that would provide food for migrating birds including live oaks 10 to 40 feet high. Today, these live oaks provide shade to our visitors as well as refuge for squirrels and more than 100 bird species.

Two ponds were created to entice teal and wood ducks to take residence. The Reflection Pool gives visitors one of the most memorable experiences in the Gardens. Its location captures the reflection of the Tower and offers the first image visitors have when entering the Gardens.

Today the Gardens consist of 200 acres of gardens and grounds, 157 that make up the Woodland Garden designed by Olmstead. From the overlook on Iron Mountain, visitors enjoy a view of an expansive land 40 miles away. The Gardens are surrounded by the lush landscape of the Longleaf Pine/Turkey Oak Habitat and miles of orange groves. Bok Tower Gardens maintains between 20-30 endangered plant species at any given time and is home to endangered animals such as the gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake.

Pinewood Estate

Enjoy a quiet, reflective tour of Pinewood Estate, a 20-room Mediterranean Revival-style villa occupying eight acres adjacent to Bok Tower Gardens. The romantic style of this home is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year.

Pinewood began its life in 1929 under the name "El Retiro" and was the winter home of C. Austin Buck, vice president of Bethlehem Steel. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., who came to the area in 1922 to design Edward Bok's sanctuary, was designing private gardens at nearby Mountain Lake Estates. William Lyman Phillips was assigned as the Olmsted representative, and was retained by Buck to design the gardens and site of "El Retiro" and to take maximum advantage of the lush Florida landscape.

Charles Wait, long affiliated with the Olmsted firm, was brought in to design the house in the Mediterranean Revival-style Floridians still enjoy today. Wait created a house that had the appearance of an antique villa. The thick walls, carved woodwork and doors, and wrought iron details heighten the effect. Wait also incorporated large porches to give clear views of the surroundings.

Buck, who admired Latin lifestyle and architecture, obtained the tiles used throughout the house from Cuba. Phillips, who spent time in the Canal Zone and had a great love for the tropics, set about creating a series of vistas--a Spanish frog fountain leading to a grotto in front of the house; an Oriental moon gate outside the dining room; and from the music room, the long view down a rolling lawn to the lily pool. The entire house was situated to give views through the surrounding pine trees.

Over the years, Pinewood changed hands several times before the Bok Tower Gardens Foundation acquired it in 1970. The estate was well preserved and restored to its original design by nationally recognized restoration landscape architect Rudy Favretti, the staff of Bok Tower Gardens, and a corps of volunteers. Today, work continues on the superb interior of the house.

Guided tours of Pinewood are offered from October through mid-May, daily at 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM. A six-week special event entitled 'Christmas at Pinewood', takes place each year starting the day after Thanksgiving.