How about we step back in time to uncover the secrets of the Chanhassen Clocktower? This isn’t just any clocktower. It is a symbol of a city’s growth. It is also a testament to architectural ambition.
Chanhassen got its name from the Dakota word for sugar maple tree. The city transformed from a small, sparsely populated town. It became an affluent city of over 24000 residents. Farming was the main way of life before development took over. The first settlers arrived in the 1850s. They sought land to farm and make a living. The first claim was settled in June 1852.
Let’s turn our attention to a clocktower in Minneapolis. It once held a prestigious title. It was considered the largest public timepiece in the world when added in 1916. That’s right. The Minneapolis City Hall clock even overshadowed London’s Big Ben.
Groundbreaking for the City Hall and Courthouse occurred in 1889. However construction wasn’t complete until 1906. Long and Kees Architects designed the building. They modeled their design after the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. Henry Hobson Richardson built that courthouse. The building showcases the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The City Hall and Courthouse has a five-story Rotunda. It has stained glass windows. These windows were designed and created by Ford Brothers Glass Company.
The clock tower has each clock face that is 23 feet and six inches in diameter. That’s four inches larger than Big Ben.
Granite for the building came from Ortonville MN. This is over 160 miles away. Carts and horses hauled the granite. Some granite blocks weighed over 20 tons. The largest block of granite weighs 23 tons. It caps the archway to the basement access entry.
Originally row houses stood across the street. These row houses emphasized the building’s massive size. The City Hall and Courthouse remained the tallest building. That lasted until the Foshay Tower was built in the 1920s.
The building also features a carillon of 15 bells. People heralded them as the nation’s most finely pitched bells. They chime every quarter hour. They also play on official holidays.
Inside the rotunda stands a statue of MISSISSIPPI Father of Waters. Sculptor Larkin Goldsmith created it in Florence Italy. The statue was donated in 1904. It was sculpted from the largest piece of marble from the Carrara quarries. MISSISSIPPI weighs over 14000 pounds.
The original roof had slate tiles. These tiles started leaking. They occasionally fell to the street below. A copper roof was installed over the original roof in 1950. The copper has since acquired a green patina.
As you explore the Chanhassen Clocktower remember its connection to the land. The Native American Dakota tribe named Chanhassen. It means sugar maple tree. The city’s story is intertwined with nature and progress. So the next time you glance at a clocktower take a moment. Think about the stories it could tell.