⛪🔔 Bells, Stone & Sky: Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Carillon Tower Tour 🏛️✨

⛪🔔 Bells, Stone & Sky: Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Carillon Tower Tour 🏛️✨

🌿 An extraordinary afternoon inside one of Chicago’s most iconic Gothic landmarks ✨

Join us for a rare and unforgettable guided visit and carillon tower tour at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, one of the most magnificent collegiate Gothic buildings in the world and a crown jewel of the University of Chicago campus.

This special experience begins with an introduction to the chapel’s history and architecture before taking us inside the tower itself — offering an up-close look at the mighty carillon bells, the inner workings of the instrument, and breathtaking views from above.

This is a stationary guided visit and tower tour (not a walking tour), but it does involve stair climbing — allowing us to focus deeply on architecture, engineering, music, and vertical exploration in a truly unique setting.

Expect soaring stone vaults, massive bronze bells, mechanical marvels, a live music demonstration, and panoramic skyline and lake views. ✨

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🕰️ Schedule, Meeting Info & Cost
📅 Sunday, February 15, 2026
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Rockefeller Memorial Chapel 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago
⏱️ Visit length: ~90 minutes
🎤 Private guided chapel & carillon tower tour
💰 $15 per person
💵 Cash strongly preferred (Zelle / Venmo / PayPal accepted)

⚠️ All attendees must check in with me at the start and submit payment directly so I can provide one group donation to the chapel.

📸 Photography is allowed — please be respectful and follow any guidance from our hosts.

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🌟 What We’ll Experience
⛪ Rockefeller Memorial Chapel’s awe-inspiring Gothic interior
🔔 Introduction to the chapel’s history, architecture, and musical legacy
🏗️ Behind-the-scenes access to the carillon tower
🕰️ The tower’s mechanical room and historic regulator clock
🔔 Up-close views of the 72-bell carillon (over 100 tons of bronze)
🎶 A live demonstration of how the carillon is played
🏛️ The playing cabin where the carillonist performs
🌆 Seasonal 360-degree views from the top of tower (weather/university permitting)

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🔔 Stair Climbing & Accessibility Note
This tour involves climbing 271 steps, roughly equivalent to 20–22 stories. The staircase is a narrow spiral with no elevator, and the experience may not be suitable for those who are afraid of heights or claustrophobic, or for anyone with knee issues, mobility concerns, or difficulty with stair climbing.

We ascend at a leisurely pace with multiple breaks, and there is no pressure to reach the top. Participants are welcome to turn back at any point.

Guests who choose not to climb (or who stop early) may remain on the main floor and still enjoy the carillon playing demonstration via live video and audio feed.

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📖 About Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel was funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. as a memorial to his father, John D. Rockefeller Sr., the principal benefactor of the University of Chicago. Designed by renowned architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, the chapel was completed in 1928 and stands as one of the finest examples of collegiate Gothic Revival architecture in the United States.

Conceived as a non-denominational sacred space, the chapel reflects medieval English cathedral influences combined with early 20th-century American craftsmanship, serving as a symbolic and spiritual anchor of the university.

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📖 About the Carillon Tower Tour
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel houses one of the largest carillons in the world, consisting of 72 massive bronze bells. The largest bell weighs 36,926 pounds and measures 117 inches in diameter.

The tour begins with a 10–15 minute introduction on the main floor, covering the chapel’s history, architecture, and the role of the carillon. From there, participants ascend the tower via a 271-step spiral staircase, taken at a relaxed pace with frequent stops.

Along the way, we will:
• Walk above the chapel’s false ceiling (attic catwalk)
• Pass through the mechanical room housing the original regulator clock and pneumatic chime system
• Stand beside the largest bells
• Enter the playing cabin, where the carillonist performs using hands and feet

Beyond the cabin, a short additional staircase leads to the top of the tower, where sweeping views of Chicago’s skyline, Lake Michigan, northern Indiana, and the University of Chicago campus are visible in season and when permitted.

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🍽️ Optional Coffee or Late Lunch After the Visit
Those interested are welcome to join me afterward at a nearby Hyde Park favorite such as Medici, Noodles Etc., or Salonica Restaurant.
🍽️ Options will be finalized closer to the date.
⚠️ Please bring cash — some venues may not split checks.

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👟 What to Bring / Wear
• Camera
• Comfortable shoes (stairs!)
• Respectful attire
• $15 tour fee (exact change appreciated)

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🚇 Getting There
Public transportation is encouraged.
Use Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

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🚗 Parking
• Limited street parking nearby (check posted signs)
• University area can be busy — arriving early is recommended
• SpotHero or ParkWhiz may be helpful

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📝 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✔️ Please keep your RSVP updated
✔️ Cancel promptly if plans change
❌ Repeated no-shows may affect future event participation

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✨🔔 Join us for a rare opportunity to explore sacred architecture, musical engineering, and sky-high views — all inside one of Chicago’s most extraordinary landmarks.