Hear the pealing of historic bells at this unique monument in North Dakota. It’s equally as beautiful as it is fascinating to learn about, and there isn’t anything else quite like it in the state. It’s located in a small town that might be a bit of a drive for some, but so worth the trip. Take a look:
Head on out to Rugby, North Dakota to discover a unique monument that you won’t find anywhere else in the state.
Google maps
Rugby, a small town, is usually known for staking a claim as the geographical center of the North American continent. People visit it to stop by an obelisk in town that says as much.
Andrew Filer/Flickr
What people also tend to notice while visiting is another tall tower - not the center point obelisk, but a tower at a funeral home.
ShanOC/Tripadvisor
This is the Niewoehner Bell Tower. At 30 feet tall and weighing in at over 4 tons, it is certainly eye catching and impressive.
ShanOC/Tripadvisor
This bell tower contains 15 bells and all of them have a story. They came from old churches, long lost towns, and other places; they were brought together here to form this impressive monument. By purchasing a $5 bell book at the monument you can read the story of each one.
ShanOC/Tripadvisor
The fun part of this spot is that it isn’t just an eye-catching structure, but also something functional. You can ask the owner to ring the bells, as all of them still work, and listen to their beautiful sound echo across town.
ShanOC/Tripadvisor
The Niewoehner Bell Tower is located at the Niewoehner Funeral Home at 213 2nd Ave. SW, Rugby, ND 58368. It is important not to ring the bells without permission, so please respect this when you are visiting the tower.
Google maps
Andrew Filer/Flickr
ShanOC/Tripadvisor
As mentioned, Rugby has more than just a bell tower. While you’re in town you can also visit the obelisk marking the geographical center of North America. Learn more about that right here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
