Set in Washington Park, near the Botanical Garden, the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon is one of the largest and finest of the world’s Carillons. The Carillon is the site of numerous free public concerts and the world famous International Carillon Festival, held each June which draws thousands of music lovers during the week-long festival. The Carillon is open for tours that provide a spectacular view of Springfield from the highest point of elevation in the city. Within the open tower lay 67 bronze bells, covering 5½ chromatic octaves all played manually on a keyboard located in the carillonneur’s cabin. The Carillon was cast by Petit & Fritsen, Ltd., a 300-year-old bell foundry in the Aarle Rixtel, The Netherlands. The total weight of the bells is 82,753 pounds: the largest (bourdon) bell, a deep G flat, weighs 15,000 pounds, while the smallest weighs 22 pounds.
