Bok Singing Tower

Part of Bok Sanctuary and Gardens.

In all the natural beauty of the gardens, Bok believed something was missing. Remembering the glorious sound of carillons in his native Holland, he decided to build a beautiful tower as the focal point of the Sanctuary which would be crowned by a large carillon.

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 wanted to adapt his design to the characteristics of the Florida landscape.

Lee Lawrie, a noted sculptor from New York, was engaged to design the elaborate marble sculpture that adorns the Tower. Although Medary's overall design is neo-Gothic in its conception, he, like Lawrie, was a man of the times. Thus, Lawrie incorporated art-deco influences into the sculptural decoration of the tower.

Construction of the Tower began in 1927 and was completed in time for the dedication on February 1, 1929.