July at the Tower
Children visit the Tower Free
With the elevator back up and running at the Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower in Jefferson, people can now experience the full capabilities overlooking Greene County from the Paul Nally Observation Deck.
Jefferson Matters Executive Director Matt Wetrich says youth can also ride to the top of the Bell Tower for free because of the generosity of Jefferson Family Dentistry and Jefferson Dental Care.
“Thanks to both of our local dentist offices for co-sponsoring getting our kiddos up in the tower as many times as they want this year.”
Wetrich adds that adult admissions are $5 to also go up to see all of the amazing sights of the county from a height of 128 feet. The Bell Tower is open daily from 10am-4pm.
Tower Opens for 2025
The Mahanay Memorial Carillon Tower will officially open weekends in May starting May 3-4. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm. Daily hours begin on Memorial Day weekend through the end of October with hours from 10 am – 4 pm.
At this time, the elevator is not operable so tours will not include a trip to the observation deck. As soon as the needed part is installed, an announcement will be made. The staff will enjoy telling the story of the Tower and directing visitors to other local attractions.
The four octaves of bells play the Westminster chimes at each quarter hour throughout the day. A carillon concert of two songs is played after each hour from 9 am – 7 pm. The “Jefferson Chimes” written by local musician Jennifer Powers is played on the carillon after the 8 am Westminster Chimes and the 8 pm Westminster Chimes to begin and end each day.
The Bell Tower Lobby offers souvenirs, an historical video, and special items telling the story of the tower and the Jefferson community. A display honors the many Bell Tower of Fame Award recipients. Visitors are asked to locate their home on the maps – both U.S. and the world. The hospitality-trained tower tour guides are very knowledgeable about the history of the tower and Greene County.
At this time, there will be no admission fee for visitors and they will be contacted when the elevator is operable again.
For more information about the tower and activities, follow the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page, Instagram, and check out the website www.mahanaybelltower.org
Become a Mahanay Maestro
Inviting New Mahanay Maestros to Play the Historic Mahanay Memorial Carillon
Jefferson, IA – Do you have at least two years of piano experience and a love for music? The Mahanay Memorial Carillon is looking for more musicians to join our team of Mahanay Maestros! This is a unique opportunity to share your musical talents by playing the beautiful 47-bell carillon in downtown Jefferson.
Each summer, the Mahanay Maestros perform Tower Tunes Live concerts on Wednesdays for a 15-minute session, filling the town with music that the public loves to hear – recognizable tunes, religious music, and patriotic songs. Musicians select their own music, and training will be provided.
Tower Tunes Live concerts are held from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Wednesdays from 12:15 – 12:30 pm. Maestros select the day(s) they can play. To participate, nominees must complete the nomination form and be approved. The carillon keyboard is up one flight of stairs in the Mahanay Tower. There is no monetary compensation, but your contributions will be deeply appreciated by the community.
If you or someone you know is interested, complete the nomination form online at mahanaybelltower.org. Simply go to Join Our Team and click Become a Maestro to access the form. Here is the direct link: https://mahanaybelltower.org/about/volunteer/
For more information, contact Mahanay Music Coordinator Peg Raney at mahanaybelltower@gmail.com
Come be part of a cherished local tradition and make the bells ring out for all to enjoy!
Join Our Team!
Join Our Team at the Bell Tower Community Foundation!
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do you enjoy engaging with others and sharing local history? We’re hiring for these exciting part time positions. Click here for Job Descriptions.
- Finance & Social Media Coordinator
- Responsibilities:
- Manage financial records, budget tracking, and reporting.
- Develop and schedule engaging content for social media platforms.
- Increase community engagement and promote events.
- Qualifications:
- Strong organizational and financial skills.
- Experience with social media content creation and marketing.
- Passion for promoting community initiatives.
- Mahanay Bell Tower Staff & Tour Coordinator
- Responsibilities:
- Oversee staffing and scheduling for tower operations.
- Coordinate and lead tours, sharing the history of the iconic Mahanay Bell Tower.
- Ensure a welcoming and memorable experience for all visitors.
- Qualifications:
- Strong communication and leadership skills.
- Enthusiasm for local history and tourism.
- Ability to manage schedules and coordinate staff.
Why Join Us?
- Be part of preserving and promoting a beloved community landmark.
- Flexible part-time hours.
- Opportunity to engage with locals and visitors alike.
To Apply:
Submit your application, available here and on the Mahanay Bell Tower website at https://mahanaybelltower.org, along with your resume to the Jefferson Matters Welcome Center or e-mail to mahanaybelltower@gmail.com.
Join us in keeping the spirit of the Bell Tower ringing strong!
Caroling with the Bells
Bundle up and sing along with the Mahanay Maestros as they play familiar holiday songs in December. Each Thursday from 5:15 – 5:30 pm, a Maestro will play their selections on the carillon of the Mahanay Bell Tower. The Bell Tower Foundation invites the public to meet on the Bell Tower Plaza and sing along. Words will not be provided, so it will be fun to see who knows these songs, both religious and secular.
The Mahanay Maestros playing each Thursday will be Dec. 5 – Jenny Wills; Dec. 12 – Rita Rasmussen; and Dec. 19 – Danille Curtis. On Dec. 26, new Mahanay Maestro Carol Hansen will be playing for the first time.
Expanded hours for October
The Mahanay Bell Tower has expanded hours this year and will be open daily during the month of October from 10 am – 4 pm. With these hours, the admission will be $1 off throughout the month. Youth 18 & under will continue free admission courtesy of A & W Family Restaurant.
Bell Tower Tour Coordinator Pat Richards explained, “There has definitely been an increase in visitors during October in recent years. Traveling in the fall to see the changing rural landscape is very popular. The Lincoln Highway is a draw to many and visitors like to stop at the Tower to experience the bells and the view. There are several bus tours scheduled during this month too.”
Bell Tower Foundation President Don Van Gilder stated, “With this expansion of hours, the board decided $1 off the adult admission was a great way to promote this. We hope locals who haven’t visited the Tower in the fall will plan to do so. It is a beautiful view.”
The dedication of the Mahanay Bell Tower took place 58 years ago on October 16, 1966. This year, Mahanay Maestro Rick Morain will play a special anniversary Tower Tunes Live Concert from 12:15 – 12:30 pm. Bill Monroe continues to change the songs playing after each hour with a great selection of recognizable tunes including patriotic, religious and secular.
The Mahanay Bell Tower was named the 2021 Rural Iowa Attraction of the Year.
Special tours can be arranged by calling the Jefferson Matters office at 515-386-2155.
Father’s Day Tower Tunes Live Concert
The Mahanay Bell Tower will feature a special Father’s Day Tower Tunes Live Concert on Sunday, June 16. Mahanay Maestro Yvette Bardole will play selections on the carillon from 12:15 – 12:30 pm. The public is invited to gather downtown to listen.
The Mahanay Bell Tower is now open daily. Hours are 10 am – 4 pm.
The carillon will play music digitally throughout the weekend with two tunes after each hour from 9 am – 7 pm. The new Jefferson Chimes fanfare will play daily after 8 am and 8 pm.
The Mahanay Bell Tower is lit up with LED lights every Friday and Saturday night after dusk.
For more information about the tower and activities, follow the Mahanay Bell Tower Facebook page and check out thewebsite www.mahanaybelltower.org
Tower Tunes Live & Name That Tower Tune 2024 Schedule
For more information about each Tower Tunes Live & Name That Tower Tune concert check out the Events tab from the Experience main menu item at the top of this page.
