It’s considered a rite of passage for University of Northern Iowa students to kiss under the campanile at midnight, and while the outside of the campus landmark is familiar to many thousands, few have been inside the hundred-foot-tall tower — until now. Nathan Arndt (ARNT), director and chief curator of the U-N-I Museum, says a 3-D, 360-degree interactive tour of the campanile is now online so anyone can get an up-close look at the university centerpiece.
While some bell towers contain speakers that play recorded songs, Arndt assures that every note heard ringing across the Cedar Falls campus is from an actual metal bell being rung.
Arndt says curating this digital tour provides a unique viewing opportunity, while also allowing the experts to embed historical details and share them with current and future Panthers, and the wider community. Just how many bells are in the campanile?
Creators of the 3-D tour went to great lengths to include myriad small details to enlighten curious viewers.
The campanile was first proposed in 1914 and fundraising began, but the onset of World War One pushed back the plans, and construction began over a decade later with completion in 1926. The U-N-I Campanile will mark its 100th anniversary later this month — on September 19th.
