Mueller Tower

After World War I many universities across the nation built European-style Carillon towers like those admired by soldiers overseas. In 1930 Chancellor Burnett asked for alumni funds for several special buildings, including a tower and chimes. The Mueller Bell Tower was constructed in 1949 using funds provided by Ralph Muller who is an 1898 alumnus of the University of Nebraska and the inventor of the alligator clip (a common tool used in electronics.) The design of the tower was chosen by Mueller from a contest between UNL architecture students. Although Mueller hoped students would design a tower in the shape of an ear of corn, he selected George Kuska's Art-Deco style design which features a corn motif near the top. The tower was dedicated during the 1949 homecoming festivities and a bellmaster was brought in from Princeton University to perform the dedicatory recital which featured tunes such as ‘The Cornhusker’ and ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’.

 

Through the years Mueller Tower has been met with many strong opinions from students of UNL. The tower was officially approved by the Daily Nebraskan in 1949. In 1975 one student wrote a letter to the editor of the Daily Nebraskan proposing that the tower was part of a communist plot to overthrow the football team. Additionally in 1982 one disgruntled student suggested calling President Ronald Reagan to replace the tower with a missile for use against the USSR in the Cold War. However, many other students and faculty of the University came to the defense of the beloved ‘Singing Silo’ and the Mueller Tower even ran to be an Agriculture College Senator in 1978.