Magnificent Clock Towers Worth The Trip From California To New York
Clock towers stand as timeless landmarks across America’s landscape, combining both function and architectural beauty.
These towering timepieces have kept communities running on schedule for generations while becoming beloved symbols of their cities.
From historic courthouses to modern skyscrapers, each clock tower tells a unique story about the place it calls home.
1. Wrigley Building Clock Tower (Chicago, Illinois)
Gleaming white against Chicago’s skyline, this magnificent terra cotta tower has been an iconic fixture since 1924.
Originally built as headquarters for the chewing gum empire, its four-sided clock face is illuminated at night, creating a spectacular glow visible across downtown.
The tower’s dazzling presence along the Chicago River makes it one of the Magnificent Mile’s most photographed landmarks.
2. Allen-Bradley Clock Tower (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Once crowned the “Largest Four-Sided Clock in the World” by Guinness World Records, this Milwaukee marvel commands attention from miles away.
Each face measures a whopping 40 feet in diameter with hour hands extending 14 feet.
Locals affectionately nicknamed it the “Polish Moon” because it illuminated the predominantly Polish neighborhood below, guiding workers home after late shifts.
3. Philadelphia City Hall Clock Tower (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Watching over the city since 1901, this magnificent Second Empire masterpiece stands 548 feet tall, crowned by a 37-foot bronze statue of William Penn.
For nearly a century, an unwritten gentlemen’s agreement prevented buildings from rising above Penn’s hat.
The tower houses four illuminated clock faces, each measuring 26 feet in diameter, visible from every corner of Center City.
4. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower (New York City, New York)
Standing proudly at 700 feet, this Manhattan marvel held the title of world’s tallest building from 1909 to 1913.
Inspired by Venice’s Campanile di San Marco, the tower’s four-sided clock features faces 26.5 feet in diameter with numerals four feet tall.
At night, the clock’s hands were once illuminated by flashing lights – red for minutes and white for hours – visible 20 miles away.
5. Union Station Clock Tower (Portland, Oregon)
“Go By Train” glows in neon red beneath this beloved 150-foot tower that has welcomed travelers since 1896.
The tower’s four illuminated clock faces, each measuring 9 feet across, have guided passengers for generations.
After falling into disrepair, a 1990s restoration brought this Romanesque beauty back to life, once again making it Portland’s most recognized landmark.
6. Old Post Office Pavilion Clock Tower (Washington, D.C.)
Rising 315 feet above Pennsylvania Avenue, this Romanesque fortress offers the second-highest viewpoint in Washington after the Washington Monument.
Completed in 1899, the tower houses the Congress Bells, a gift from England for America’s bicentennial.
Despite the building’s transformation into a luxury hotel, the National Park Service maintains the observation deck, providing spectacular panoramic views of the capital.
7. Denver Union Station Clock Tower (Denver, Colorado)
Against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, this historic transportation hub’s illuminated clock has welcomed travelers since 1914.
The station underwent a massive $54 million renovation in 2014, transforming it into a modern transit center while preserving its historic charm.
The tower’s grand clock face continues to keep time for hurried commuters and tourists alike in the bustling LoDo district.
8. California Tower at Balboa Park (San Diego, California)
Soaring 200 feet into the San Diego sky, this Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece was built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Silent for decades, the tower’s chimes began ringing again in 2015 after extensive restoration.
Visitors can now climb the 125 steps to the observation deck for breathtaking views of the park, downtown San Diego, and the Pacific Ocean.
9. Jewelers’ Building Clock Tower (Chicago, Illinois)
Hidden behind elaborate ornamentation, this architectural gem once featured an automobile elevator allowing jewelry merchants to drive directly to their offices for security.
Completed in 1927, the tower’s four-sided clock sits 462 feet above street level.
Its lavish interior dome, once home to a speakeasy during Prohibition reportedly frequented by Al Capone, now houses private offices with breathtaking views of the Chicago River.
10. Independence Hall Clock Tower (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Where would American democracy be without this humble timekeeper that witnessed the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?
The original wooden tower, completed in 1753, deteriorated and was replaced in 1828 with the current brick structure. The famous Liberty Bell once rang from this tower before being moved to its own pavilion nearby.
11. Custom House Tower (Boston, Massachusetts)
Jutting dramatically into Boston’s skyline, this 496-foot neoclassical tower was the city’s first skyscraper when completed in 1915.
Originally built on reclaimed land, engineers drove 3,000 wooden pilings through mud to support the massive structure.
The tower’s illuminated clock faces have guided ships into Boston Harbor for over a century, serving as a maritime landmark before modern navigation.
12. Randolph County Courthouse Clock Tower (Winchester, Indiana)
Nestled in small-town America, this Victorian beauty represents the heartland’s architectural heritage with its distinctive green copper dome.
Completed in 1879, the tower’s four clock faces have witnessed generations of community life unfolding below.
Unlike its big-city cousins, this tower maintains its original hand-wound clock mechanism, faithfully maintained by a dedicated local who climbs the narrow stairs weekly.
13. San Francisco Ferry Building Clock Tower (San Francisco, California)
Surviving both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes, this resilient landmark has stood guard over San Francisco Bay since 1898.
Modeled after the 12th-century Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain, its massive clock faces measure 22 feet in diameter.
Following a $100 million restoration in 2003, the building now houses a vibrant marketplace while the illuminated tower continues serving as a welcoming beacon for ferry passengers.
14. Seattle King Street Station Clock Tower (Seattle, Washington)
Inspired by Venice’s Campanile di San Marco, this 242-foot terracotta-clad tower has welcomed travelers to the Pacific Northwest since 1906.
The tower’s four-sided clock, with faces measuring 14 feet in diameter, once guided passengers before wristwatches became common.
After decades of neglect and unfortunate modifications, a $55 million restoration completed in 2013 returned the tower to its original grandeur.
15. Pulaski County Courthouse Clock Tower (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Dominating Little Rock’s skyline since 1889, this Romanesque Revival treasure features four illuminated clock faces that have faithfully served generations of Arkansans.
The tower’s original Seth Thomas clock mechanism still operates with remarkable precision.
During the 1957 Central High School integration crisis, the tower stood as a silent witness to history unfolding nearby, its steady timekeeping a reminder of progress moving inexorably forward.
