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PROFILE: Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida

April 23, 2023

Bok Tower, also known as the Singing Tower, is a historic landmark and National Historic Landmark located in Lake Wales, Florida, United States. It was built between 1927 and 1929 by the Dutch architect and designer, Milton Medary, as a gift from Edward Bok, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and editor.

The tower is 205 feet tall and is made of pink and gray marble and coquina stone. At the top of the tower, there is a carillon, which is a musical instrument that consists of a series of bells. The carillon contains 60 bells, the largest of which weighs 12 tons. The bells are played by a musician called a carillonneur, who uses a keyboard to strike the bells and create music.

The surrounding gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the son of the famous landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park. The gardens feature a variety of plants, including azaleas, camellias, and magnolias, as well as a reflecting pool, a bird sanctuary, and a butterfly garden.

Bok Tower and its gardens are open to the public and are a popular tourist destination in central Florida.