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Campus Life

A Hundred Years and a Thousand Words

people gather for the Belltower reopening and dedication of Henry Square

This story is part of an ongoing series highlighting the restoration and completion of the Memorial Belltower. Click the link to learn more about the history of NC State’s Legend in Stone.

On May 14, NC State celebrated an event one century in the making. The Memorial Belltower at Henry Square was officially reopened and dedicated, signaling the end of some 100 years of construction and, recently, renovation.

Later that evening, the Belltower was lit red for the first time since work began some 600 days before — just in time for NC State’s new alumni to return from their graduation ceremony at Carter-Finley Stadium for some spectacular photo opportunities.

Driven by a transformational gift from the Bill (’81) and Frances Henry family, the Memorial Belltower now has 55 real bells, a clean exterior, a completely restored Shrine Room and more.

Below are some of the many special moments that took place during the ceremony. Flip through the gallery, then watch the footage of this extraordinary moment in NC State’s history. The event program is also available for download.

This post was originally published in Giving News.