Clock Tower (Rome, Georgia)
The Clock Tower in Rome, Georgia sits on Clock Tower Hill, also known as Neely Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome. It was built in 1871 under James Noble Jr. to store the city’s water—about 250,000 gallons. The tank’s frame used long iron sheets and red bricks, and the tank itself was 63 feet tall and 26 feet wide.
In 1872, a bronze bell and four clock faces were added to the top, raising the total height to 104 feet. The clocks were built by E. Howard Clock Company; each face is 9 feet across, with a 3 foot 6 inch hour hand and a 4 foot 3 inch minute hand. The bell is 40 inches wide and bears the year 1872 on its rim. From downtown, the clock tower is a prominent landmark.
By the 1890s the tower stopped serving as a water source and began to fall into disrepair during the 20th century. In 1986, the Rome Jaycees raised more than $80,000 to landscape Neely Hill around the tower. The structure was restored as a museum and reopened in 1995. Inside the water tank, visitors can see works by local artist Chuck Smultz, and there are 107 steps that lead to the top.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:50 (CET).