The 104-foot Clock Tower of Neely Hill in Rome, Georgia

Way back in 1871, the clock tower was built under the direction of James Noble, Jr. and his family. In those days, the 104-foot structure served as Rome's water tank, constructed with a frame of iron sheets and red bricks. By the 1890s, the tower could no longer support the city's water needs and ceased to operate as a water tower.

A year after the original tower was built, it was adorned with a bell and four clock faces crafted by the E. Howard Clock Company. Each face is nine feet in diameter, with an hour hand three feet, six inches long and a minute hand four feet, three inches long. The bell, made of genuine bronze, measures 40 inches wide and has the date 1872 engraved on its rim.

As Rome expanded and modernized, the tower fell into a state of mild disrepair throughout the 20th Century. In 1986, the Rome Jaycees raised over $80,000 to provide landscaping on top of Neely Hill around the clock tower. The tower became a museum in 1995, featuring 107 spiraling steps and works of art by local artist Chuck Smultz inside the former water tank. Keep a keen eye out for this emblematic landmark when exploring downtown Rome.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons